Authorities are investigating the shooting that left Andriy Portnov dead after dropping off his children.
Ex-Ukrainian Official Andriy Portnov Shot Dead in Madrid Outside School
Ex-Ukrainian Official Andriy Portnov Shot Dead in Madrid Outside School
Tragic incident unfolds as a former aide to ousted president turned pro-Russian figure is fatally shot.
In a shocking incident early Wednesday morning, Andriy Portnov, a former prominent Ukrainian official, was shot dead outside an American school in Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid. The 51-year-old had just dropped his children off for school and was heading to his vehicle when at least one unidentified assailant opened fire, hitting him multiple times before fleeing the scene.
Portnov served as a deputy head under Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's pro-Russian president ousted in 2014 amid widespread protests. He had previously held a position in Yulia Tymoshenko's party but aligned himself with Yanukovych's administration after the latter's win in the 2010 presidential election. After the Ukrainian revolution, Portnov left the country but returned briefly in 2019 following Volodymyr Zelensky's election, only to leave again in 2021.
Emergency services arrived at the scene following the attack, which occurred around 09:15 local time. Eyewitness accounts report hearing five to six shots, with some students mistaking the gunfire for firecrackers. A woman reportedly rushed to aid Portnov, who succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in the back and head.
Law enforcement deployed police drones and a helicopter in a search for the assailant, described as a thin man in a blue tracksuit, and potentially accompanied by someone on a motorbike. As of Wednesday evening, no arrests had been made, and authorities were still determining a motive.
Portnov's black Mercedes was cordoned off as an investigation began. The school sent notices to parents assuring them of their children's safety inside the premises. Notably, Portnov had encountered legal challenges over the years, including sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury, citing his past actions as a judiciary manipulator in Ukraine.
Past incidents of targeted violence related to the Ukrainian-Russian conflict have occurred, including a similar shooting in 2018 near a British Council school. However, the circumstances surrounding Portnov's murder remain unclear, raising concerns over potential ties to larger geopolitical tensions.
Portnov served as a deputy head under Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's pro-Russian president ousted in 2014 amid widespread protests. He had previously held a position in Yulia Tymoshenko's party but aligned himself with Yanukovych's administration after the latter's win in the 2010 presidential election. After the Ukrainian revolution, Portnov left the country but returned briefly in 2019 following Volodymyr Zelensky's election, only to leave again in 2021.
Emergency services arrived at the scene following the attack, which occurred around 09:15 local time. Eyewitness accounts report hearing five to six shots, with some students mistaking the gunfire for firecrackers. A woman reportedly rushed to aid Portnov, who succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in the back and head.
Law enforcement deployed police drones and a helicopter in a search for the assailant, described as a thin man in a blue tracksuit, and potentially accompanied by someone on a motorbike. As of Wednesday evening, no arrests had been made, and authorities were still determining a motive.
Portnov's black Mercedes was cordoned off as an investigation began. The school sent notices to parents assuring them of their children's safety inside the premises. Notably, Portnov had encountered legal challenges over the years, including sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury, citing his past actions as a judiciary manipulator in Ukraine.
Past incidents of targeted violence related to the Ukrainian-Russian conflict have occurred, including a similar shooting in 2018 near a British Council school. However, the circumstances surrounding Portnov's murder remain unclear, raising concerns over potential ties to larger geopolitical tensions.
