The murder of Andriy Portnov, a former Ukrainian official, in a Madrid suburb has sent shockwaves through Ukraine. Portnov was shot several times in a car park after dropping off his children at the American School. The 51-year-old’s life was marked by controversy, corruption, and Russian influence.
Portnov’s rise to power began when he worked with then-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko before defecting to Viktor Yanukovych’s camp. He became a key figure in Yanukovych’s administration, shaping the country’s judicial system to serve the government’s interests. “He was the kingpin, mastermind, and architect of this corrupt legal system designed to serve the pro-Russian administration at the time,” said Mykhailo Zhernakov, a legal expert.
Portnov’s tactics included suing journalists who wrote negative stories about him and pursuing activists who took part in Ukraine’s Maidan Revolution. “He used sexual threats,” recalled Oksana Romaniuk, director of the Institute of Mass Information. “When people exposed his corruption, he accused them of fake news.”
The motives behind Portnov’s murder are still unclear, but many believe it may be linked to his shady dealings. “It could have been the Russians because he knew so many things,” suggested Zhernakov. “He managed to annoy a lot of people.” Ukrainian security sources, however, seem to be distancing themselves from the killing.
While some Ukrainians have expressed relief at Portnov’s demise, others hope his death will prompt wider judicial reforms. “Just because he’s gone doesn’t mean his influence has,” warned Zhernakov. “Many of the people he appointed or helped get jobs are still in the system.”
Andriy Portnov, a 51-year-old former top aide to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, was shot dead outside an American school in Madrid, Spain. Portnov was dropping off his children at the school in Pozuelo de Alarcón when the attack occurred at 9:15 local time. Witnesses reported hearing six or seven shots before seeing a man lying on the ground. The gunman, described as a thin man wearing a blue tracksuit, fled the scene, possibly with an accomplice on a motorbike. Spanish police launched a search operation, utilizing drones and helicopters to track down the killer.
The motive behind the murder is still unclear, but experts describe it as a “professional hit.” Portnov had a history of controversy, having been sanctioned by the United States in 2021 for alleged corruption and bribery. He was also targeted with European Union sanctions, which he later challenged and won.
As a senior aide to Yanukovych, Portnov was involved in several high-profile investigations, including treason and embezzlement charges. His murder marks the second high-profile shooting in Madrid in recent years, following the attempted assassination of Alejo Vidal-Quadras in 2023.