**Ukraine’s Ex-President Aide Family Accused of Laundering Millions in Dubai**
The family of Andriy Portnov, a former top aide to ex-President Viktor Yanukovych, has been accused of laundering millions of dollars through the purchase of luxury properties in Dubai. According to an investigative report by Schemes, a project by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Portnov’s civil partner and daughter acquired more than $2 million worth of real estate in the emirate during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The report reveals that Anastasiia Valiaieva, Portnov’s civil partner, and his daughter Liliia Portnova purchased six properties between 2022-2023. The first known purchase was made by Portnova in October 2022, when she bought a 69-square-meter apartment for around $320,000. Property acquisitions reportedly accelerated in mid-2023, with Valiaieva and Portnova investing in multiple new developments.
Despite owning these high-end assets, the report found no public records indicating current business activity for either woman. Valiaieva previously owned a company called Vasilisa Group, formerly known as Portnov Group and linked to Portnov himself, but he ceased to be listed as its owner in 2020.
**A Look into the Properties**
The properties purchased by Valiaieva and Portnova include:
* A 69-square-meter apartment in Sobha Hartland One Park Avenue valued at around $320,000
* Multiple new developments, including Sobha Hartland Waves Opulence and Creek Vista Heights, spending between $132,000 and $600,000 per unit
* An apartment in Sobha Hartland Waves Opulence valued at over $600,000, still under construction and slated for completion in September 2025
* Another apartment in Creek Vista Heights, worth more than $550,000, expected to be completed in 2026
**The Men Behind the Deals**
Andriy Portnov was a central figure in the Yanukovych administration from 2010-2014 and was sanctioned by the United States in 2021 over allegations of corruption and judicial manipulation. He fled Ukraine following the 2014 EuroMaidan Revolution and resided in Russia and Austria, returning to Ukraine in 2019 before fleeing again in June 2022.
**A Timeline of Portnov’s Life**
* 2010-2014: Served as a top aide to ex-President Viktor Yanukovych
* 2014: Fled Ukraine following the EuroMaidan Revolution and resided in Russia and Austria
* 2019: Returned to Ukraine
* June 2022: Fled again after Russia’s full-scale invasion began
* May 21, 2024: Shot dead in Madrid
The revelations come around two weeks after Portnov was shot dead in Madrid. Ukrainian military intelligence confirmed his death to the Kyiv Independent.
**Conclusion**
The report by Schemes raises questions about the source of funds used to purchase these luxury properties and whether they were laundered through Dubai’s real estate market. The accusations against Portnov’s family have sparked an investigation, but no arrests have been made.
