Suspect in 2025 Madrid Murder of Former Ukrainian Official Detained in Germany
Heinsberg, Germany – A Ukrainian national has been arrested in Germany in connection with the May 2025 murder of Andriy Portnov, a former deputy head of the Presidential Administration under Ukraine’s ex-President Viktor Yanukovych. The arrest, a joint operation between Spanish and German authorities, took place on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, in Heinsberg, near the Dutch border.
Details of the Arrest and Investigation
Spanish National Police, specifically the 5th Homicide Investigation Unit of the Madrid Provincial Police Department, made the arrest with support from Germany’s BKA special operations forces [RT]. A European Arrest Warrant and European Investigation Order had been issued, allowing authorities to search the suspect’s residence in Heinsberg [RT].
The investigation suggests the arrested suspect was the individual who fired the shots that killed Portnov [Yahoo News]. Authorities believe several individuals were involved in the crime, with the arrested man identified as the primary perpetrator [UNN].
The Murder of Andriy Portnov
Andriy Portnov, 51, was shot in the back on May 21, 2025, while getting into his car after dropping his daughters off at school in Pozuelo de Alarcón, a suburb of Madrid [MSN], [UNN]. Witnesses described a lone gunman approaching Portnov and firing multiple shots, including at least one to the head, before fleeing with accomplices [RT].
The murder occurred near a school around 9:15 a.m., causing shock among local residents [UNN]. Shortly after the incident, a Spanish court classified the investigation [Yahoo News].
Background on Andriy Portnov
Andriy Portnov served as first deputy head of the Ukrainian President’s Office under Viktor Yanukovych [Yahoo News]. He was a lawyer and political operative with a long career in Ukrainian politics [RT].
Further Developments
According to sources, the suspect is a Ukrainian citizen originally from the Donetsk region [UNN]. Authorities are as well searching for two accomplices: the suspect’s brother, who is reportedly hiding in Russia, and a third individual who allegedly provided an escape route for the killers [UNN].