Andriy Portnov, a former top Ukrainian official, was shot dead outside an American school in Madrid after dropping off his children.

The gunman fled into a nearby park, and no arrests have been made.

Portnov, once allied with pro-Russian ex-president Yanukovych, had faced U.S. sanctions and was accused of undermining judicial reforms.

The motive for the attack remains unknown, though the shooting occurred in broad daylight as students arrived, the BBC has reported.

Spanish police are investigating, and parallels have been drawn to past targeted killings in Spain.

Written by B.C. Begley