Ukrainian ex-top official shot dead in Spain

A former Ukrainian politician who had been a senior aide to a pro-Russian president was shot dead outside a school in Madrid, Spain.

Andriy Portnov had been deputy head of the presidential administration under former president Viktor Yanukovych.

On Wednesday, at approximately 9:15 AM local time, Portnov was ambushed by several attackers as he returned to his car after leaving his children at the American School of Madrid.

Witnesses report he was shot multiple times, including at least once in the head.

The attackers fled the scene, heading toward a nearby wooded area.

Portnov had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2021 for undermining judicial reforms.

After fleeing Ukraine in 2014, he lived in Russia and Austria before settling in Spain.

Investigations into his killing are ongoing, but no arrests have been reported yet.