The National Police are continuing their investigation into the murder of former Ukrainian political figure Andriy Portnov, who was shot dead on Wednesday outside the American School in Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, shortly after dropping his daughters off for class. Reports indicate that Portnov, a controversial figure who once served under pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, was attacked in broad daylight as he approached his parked black Mercedes.

Emergency services found Portnov unconscious on the ground, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds from behind and in the head. At least nine bullet casings were recovered from the scene, suggesting multiple assailants may have been involved. Witnesses have been interviewed, and efforts are underway to scrutinise security footage from a nearby university residence.

The American School implemented a lockdown protocol, ensuring the safety of students and staff after the incident. Parents gathered outside the school to collect their children, while the authorities are conducting extensive searches of the surrounding areas, including roadblocks and aerial surveillance, in pursuit of the suspects who fled towards the wooded region of Casa de Campo.

The motive for the shooting remains uncertain, although investigators are assessing connections to Portnov’s political history, marked by controversy including accusations of corruption and human rights violations. As the investigation proceeds, the murder has left many in Ukraine and Spain shocked, with insights from Ukrainian officials hinting at possible political motivations behind the act.