Monaco Bomb Mystery Deepens as Ukraine’s Security Services Are Linked to Murder of Prime Suspect
Monaco bomb mystery deepens as Ukraine – A complicated investigation into a suspected bombing in Monaco has grown even more tangled following revelations about the death of the primary suspect. Court proceedings have uncovered evidence pointing toward Kyiv’s intelligence apparatus in connection with Anastasia Berezovska’s killing. French authorities recently identified Berezovska from surveillance video as the individual seen departing with a backpack near a residential building in Monaco. The explosive device detonated, wounding Ukrainian businessman Vadym Iermolaiev alongside his partner and thirteen-year-old child as they exited the structure.
Berezovska, aged thirty-nine, had concealed her gender by dressing as a male before escaping in a vehicle bearing German license plates. Her journey took her through France and eventually into Italy. On the first of July, she returned to Ukraine, boarding a bus bound for Zhytomyr, a city situated west of the capital. Ukrainian officials confirmed on Tuesday that her remains were discovered in a wooded area close to Kyiv.
Intelligence Connections and Murder Allegations
The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that Berezovska was approached by two individuals who had previously transferred funds to her cryptocurrency and banking accounts. Vladyslav Reut appeared before a court on Thursday facing murder charges. He named Vitaliy Zhykovych, a former police officer from the Kyiv region, as his co-conspirator. Ukrainian news outlets noted that Reut, thirty-three years old, completed legal studies at Kyiv’s national university and was employed by the GUR military intelligence service. Radio Liberty stated he belonged to unit A2772, which functions as a training facility for special operations personnel.
During his court appearance, Reut placed blame on Zhykovych for the brutal execution of Berezovska. According to his account, the pair seized her at gunpoint and transported her to a forest located near Yuriv village, approximately sixty kilometers west of Kyiv.
“Zhykovych fired the first shot at her in the back of the head. She fell down. He came up and fired another shot. I was standing a few metres away at that moment,” Reut told the judge.
Reut explained that four bullets were discharged before Zhykovych compelled him to excavate a grave. The alleged accomplice then collected Berezovska’s possessions and removed her shoes. Reut declared his intention to undergo a polygraph examination to demonstrate his innocence. Anatoliy Ivanov, representing Zhykovych, stated that his client rejected all accusations.
Political Fallout and Background
The SBU located Berezovska’s body after the two men confessed to the crime. Officers also retrieved shell casings from the forest site. Grainy video was released showing what officials termed a “torture chamber” situated in the basement of Zhykovych’s residence in Bilogorodka. However, investigators subsequently clarified that Berezovska had not been subjected to torture prior to her death in the woods.
This development presents difficulties for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, particularly because the suspects are connected to military intelligence. Even though authorities maintain that Reut and Zhykovych acted independently, the situation remains politically sensitive. French President Emmanuel Macron called on Zelenskyy to thoroughly investigate the matter and hold accountable those responsible.
“I will update the public,” Zelenskyy promised when asked by the Guardian about receiving additional reports on the Monaco incident in the coming days.
Mykhailo Tkach, an investigative reporter for Ukrainska Pravda, commented that the scenario is highly problematic. He noted that explaining potential involvement of government officials, especially from the GUR, will prove challenging and likely require responses from senior leadership.
Ukraine placed personal sanctions on Iermolaiev in 2023. Forbes estimated his wealth at two hundred twenty million dollars. The SBU alleged that he continued selling alcohol in Crimea despite Russian occupation and paid substantial taxes to Moscow. Iermolaiev, fifty-eight, dismissed the accusations as bizarre and emphasized his financial contributions to Ukraine’s armed forces. His son Artur faced separate allegations regarding a telephone fraud operation in Dnipro. Estonian authorities charged Artur and three others with establishing fraudulent call centers. Artur received a suspended sentence, paid eight point five million euros, and departed Estonia soon afterward.
A source familiar with Iermolaiev’s circle suggested that both the Monaco bombing and Berezovska’s death stemmed from criminal motives rather than political ones. The individual indicated that Vadym or his relatives simply refused to pay certain parties, pointing to a dispute over protection money as the underlying cause.
