Former Yanukovych Adviser Andriy Portnov Shot Dead in Madrid Suburb

Andriy Portnov, a former senior aide to ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, was fatally shot in Madrid on Wednesday morning, according to a source close to the ongoing police investigation.

Spanish authorities confirmed that a call was received at 9:15 a.m. local time reporting gunfire near the American School of Madrid, located in the affluent suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcón. The victim, initially unidentified by police, was later confirmed by investigative sources as the controversial Ukrainian political figure.

Portnov, who served as deputy head of Yanukovych’s presidential administration before the 2014 Maidan revolution, had been living in relative obscurity in recent years. He had faced multiple allegations in Ukraine related to abuse of power and corruption but was never convicted.

The suspected shooter reportedly fled the scene, and a manhunt is underway. Police have not yet disclosed any possible motives or suspects, but the nature of the attack suggests it may have been a targeted killing.

Portnov was shot near the gates of the prestigious private school, though no students or staff were harmed. Authorities have increased security in the area and are reviewing surveillance footage.

Spanish police declined to comment further due to the sensitive nature of the investigation. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet issued an official statement.

The assassination comes amid heightened tensions in Europe over the presence of former Eastern European political figures, some of whom have remained controversial across the continent.