Former Ukrainian political heavyweight Andriy Portnov has been assassinated in Madrid, in a broad daylight shooting outside the American School of Madrid that is now under investigation by Spanish authorities as a professionally executed hit.
Key Facts:
- Victim: Andriy Portnov, 51, former deputy head of ex-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration
- Location: Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
- Time: 9:15 a.m. local time, Wednesday, 21 May 2025
- Method: Shot five times by gunmen—four to the chest, one to the head
- Suspects: Believed to be 2–3 assailants, possibly on motorcycles
- Status: No arrests; manhunt underway using helicopters and drones
Who Was Andriy Portnov?
Portnov was a central figure during the Yanukovych administration from 2010–2014 and a key architect of controversial “anti-protest” laws during the Euromaidan uprising. After fleeing Ukraine in 2014, Portnov lived in Russia, Austria, and later reportedly settled in Spain.
He had been:
- Investigated for treason and corruption
- Sanctioned by the U.S. (2021), EU (2014), and Canada (2014)
- Accused of manipulating Ukraine’s judicial system, per the U.S. Treasury Department under the Magnitsky Act
Police Investigation and Theories
The Brigada de Información of the Spanish National Police is treating the incident as a targeted assassination. Initial leads point to a well-planned attack, with the suspects escaping into nearby woods.
Possible Motives:
- Political Retaliation: Portnov was labeled a “traitor” by pro-Ukraine activists and listed on the Peacemaker database.
- Financial Conflicts: Reports by El País suggest Spanish authorities are probing debt-related angles.
- Criminal Ties: Transparency International had cited Portnov in alleged corruption cases, raising the possibility of organised crime involvement.
Context: Pattern of Violence
Portnov’s killing follows a string of assassinations of Ukrainian and Russian exiles in Spain since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine:
- 2024: A Russian military defector was found dead near Alicante with gunshot wounds.
- 2022: Letter bombs were sent to the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid.
Analysts say Spain’s large expatriate population and its status as a financial haven have made it a focal point for transnational crime and geopolitical vendettas.
Global Reactions and Implications
Social media has been divided:
Some X users speculated involvement by Ukrainian intelligence, while others blamed Moscow. None of these claims have been substantiated.
The assassination is likely to intensify scrutiny on Russia-Ukraine conflict spillovers in Europe and raise concerns about the safety of political exiles abroad.
The UN 2024 human rights report warned that such targeted killings can destabilize international norms and exacerbate global conflict zones.
What’s Next?
Interpol has been asked to assist Spanish authorities. The U.S. and EU have yet to issue formal statements, though diplomatic sources indicate the case may impact ongoing EU-Ukraine relations and discussions at the upcoming G7 summit.
