Former Yanukovych Aide Andrey Portnov Shot Dead in Madrid

Former Ukrainian Official Andrey Portnov Shot Dead in Madrid Former advisor to ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Andrey Portnov, was shot dead in Madrid, Spain, on May 21, 2025. Spanish radio station Cadena SER was among the first to report the news, stating that Portnov died from multiple gunshot wounds. The incident occurred near an American school in the affluent Pozuelo de Alarcón district of Madrid. Reuters and other international news outlets have also confirmed the death. Portnov's past is controversial. He served as a deputy head of the presidential administration under Yanukovych and later headed the pro-Russian NewsOne television channel. He was under US sanctions for his alleged role in the annexation of Crimea. His death is likely to fuel speculation and political debate in Ukraine and beyond. "The murder happened this morning," reported a news anchor on 24 Kanal, a Ukrainian television network. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are currently under investigation by Spanish authorities. The swift reporting of this high-profile death by multiple international and local news agencies underscores the significance of the event and its likely impact on Ukrainian politics.