Andriy Portnov, a former Ukrainian political figure, was shot dead outside the American School of Madrid in Pozuelo de Alarcón on the morning of May 21.
The targeted assassination of the 51-year-old ex-politician, carried out in broad daylight, shocked both Spain and Ukraine.
The Wikipedia mistery
Within hours, social media users noticed something even more startling: a Wikipedia user had updated Portnov’s English-language biography to announce his death — seemingly before Spanish police had even arrived at the crime scene.
According to official sources, Spain’s National Police received the first emergency call at 9:16 a.m., reporting gunshots and the discovery of a man’s body near the school. Officers arrived at the scene around 9:30 a.m.
But Wikipedia’s edit history sparked confusion: at 9:21 a.m. GMT, a user named User444444444 updated Portnov’s page to state that he had died. Two more edits followed — at 9:24 and 9:25 — adding that Portnov had been “shot dead by one or more unidentified gunmen in Madrid.”
Just minutes later, the user deleted the account, which had been created that same morning.
The truth behind timeline
At first glance, it appeared the Wikipedia user had access to real-time, perhaps even insider information — possibly ahead of the police themselves. But the timeline was misleading.
As multiple Spanish media outlets have clarified, Wikipedia records all edit history in GMT — not local time. Since Spain is on GMT+2 during summer, the first Wikipedia edit at 9:21 GMT actually occurred at 11:21 a.m. local time — two hours after the initial emergency call.
By that point, several news outlets had already begun reporting the victim’s identity after police confirmation.
The mix-up over time zones gave the false impression of prescient reporting. In reality, the Wikipedia updates came well after authorities had arrived on the scene — and after journalists had named Portnov as the victim.
Still, the rapid edits, the user’s anonymity, and the swift deletion of the account are likely to keep fueling speculation online.
A brutal killing in broad daylight
Portnov had just dropped off his daughters at school and was returning to his high-end Mercedes when he was gunned down.
Initial investigations suggest he was shot multiple times in the back, then fatally in the head while lying on the ground.
Nine shell casings were recovered from the scene. Authorities believe at least three individuals may have been involved. One gunman reportedly fled on foot toward Casa de Campo, where a possible third accomplice may have waited with a getaway vehicle.
Spain’s Homicide Group V and Forensic Police are leading the investigation, with assistance from the Provincial Information Brigade. A secrecy order has been issued by Pozuelo de Alarcón’s Court of Instruction No. 1, which was on duty that day.
Who was Andriy Portnov?
Once a key adviser to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Portnov was widely seen as one of the architects of the anti-protest laws that inflamed the Euromaidan uprising in early 2014. That unrest eventually toppled the pro-Russian government.
He had long been under investigation for corruption and embezzlement. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Portnov fled the country in June of that year — illegally, according to Ukrainian authorities. Under martial law, men aged 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving Ukraine without special permission.
A staunch critic of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Portnov remained an outspoken and controversial figure in exile, until his death.
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