Witnesses reported multiple assailants firing at Portnov as he attempted to enter his vehicle, striking him in the back and head before fleeing into a nearby forest.

Andriy Portnov, a former Ukrainian politician and aide to pro-Russian ex-President Viktor Yanukovych, was shot dead outside The American School of Madrid on May 21, 2025.

Spanish authorities confirmed that several gunmen were involved in the assassination and have launched a homicide investigation to identify the suspects.

Local police are exploring possible motives for the murder, including organized crime and political reasons, although they have found no evidence of political involvement.

Spanish intelligence sources suspect Kremlin involvement in Portnov's assassination, highlighting the geopolitical implications of the crime.

Despite his political background, investigators currently believe organized crime is the most likely motive for Portnov's murder.

Ukrainian military intelligence confirmed Portnov's death but refrained from making any official comments on the incident.

Portnov's assassination follows a troubling trend of targeted killings linked to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including previous high-profile murders.

Police received reports of gunfire at 9:15 AM local time, confirming the incident but initially withholding the victim's identity.

Local residents described hearing multiple gunshots, with one witness recounting the chaotic aftermath of the shooting.

The incident shocked the local community, with a student at the nearby school initially mistaking the shooting announcement for a drill.

Portnov's death reverberated politically in Kyiv, where he was seen as a controversial figure linked to corruption in Ukraine's judicial system.