Suspect in Monaco Bombing Found Dead Near Kyiv; Two Arrested for Murder
Quick Look
- Anastasiia Berezovska, a Ukrainian national wanted for a parcel bomb attack in Monaco that injured three, was found dead near Kyiv.
- Ukrainian prosecutors arrested a military intelligence officer and a former law enforcement officer as suspects in her murder.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Anastasiia Berezovska, wanted for a Monaco parcel bomb attack, was found dead near Kyiv. A Ukrainian intelligence officer and a former law enforcement officer were arrested for her murder.
Anastasiia Berezovska, a Ukrainian woman wanted for allegedly planting the parcel bomb that injured three people in Monaco last month, was found dead near Kyiv, the Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine said Tuesday.
According to investigators, Berezovska, 39, who was put on Interpol’s wanted list after the June 29 Monaco attack, crossed the border into Ukraine on July 1. She was found dead in Kyiv five days later, on July 6.
“A Ukrainian military intelligence officer and a former law [enforcement officer] were arrested as suspects in Berezovska’s murder,” Ukrainian prosecutors said in their statement.
While in Monaco, Berezovska was allegedly surveilling the mansion of Ukrainian-born Cypriot businessman Vadym Ermolaev, while disguised as a man. Ermolaev and his family members were among those gravely injured in the attack.
After returning to Ukraine, Berezovska was in contact with both Ermolaev and the Ukrainian intelligence official, who were allegedly transferring funds to her bank accounts and crypto wallets. Police, state security service and prosecutors conducted an investigation, finding that an active employee of Ukraine’s military intelligence and another defendant had together killed Berezovska.
“At the same time, the intelligence officer did not inform his superiors about making contact with Berezovska, transferring her funds, and any other actions he took. He acted at his own discretion,” said Ukrainian prosecutors.
The Main Military Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine said it is fully cooperating with the investigation and assisted in the arrest of its own employee, among others.
Ukraine’s prosecutors said they are in contact with authorities in Monaco and are sharing all relevant information about the ongoing investigation.
Once one of Ukraine’s wealthiest businessmen, Ermolaev was sanctioned by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023 over allegations that companies linked to him had paid taxes in Russian-occupied Crimea. He had denied any wrongdoing.
Neither prosecutors in Ukraine nor Monaco confirmed the identity of the businessman targeted in the attack.
Open Questions
- What was the motive for Berezovska's murder?
- Who ordered the Monaco parcel bomb attack?
- What is the full extent of the intelligence officer's involvement?
