Interpol red notice and murder of Monaco bombing suspect Anastasiia Berezovska

Consensus Summary

A 39-year-old Ukrainian woman, Anastasiia Berezovska, is the prime suspect in a bombing in Monaco that targeted wealthy Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev, his partner, and their 13-year-old child on Monday evening. The attack involved a remotely detonated explosive device left in a parcel outside the victims’ building, injuring all three. Berezovska, who disguised herself as a man, fled the scene on foot to France before traveling by car through Italy to Germany, where she was later spotted in Frankfurt. Interpol issued a red notice for her on Friday, naming her as a suspect for attempted murder, placing an explosive device, and criminal conspiracy. Her body was found shot dead near Kyiv on Tuesday, raising questions about her connections to Ukrainian intelligence agencies.

The bombing occurred in Monaco, a wealthy Mediterranean principality known for its luxury lifestyle, where Yermolaiev had been living since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine had sanctioned Yermolaiev in 2023, accusing him of maintaining business ties to Russian entities in occupied Crimea, including paying taxes to the Russian treasury. The attack’s sophistication led investigators to suspect Berezovska did not act alone, with two men later arrested in connection with her murder. One of the men, Vladyslav Reut, a former GUR military intelligence officer, claimed his accomplice, Vitaliy Zhykovych, was responsible for her killing, which took place in a forest near Kyiv.

Key figures in the case include Berezovska, who had lived in Germany and Ukraine and was described as a dog breeder in Zhytomyr before the attack. Yermolaiev, a 58-year-old businessman, was also accused of ties to a criminal organization in Estonia, where his son, Artur, paid €8.5m (£7.2m) as part of a suspended sentence for fraud. Ukrainian prosecutors stated that Berezovska entered Ukraine lawfully on 1 July, with no Interpol or French arrest warrants flagged during her entry. The case has drawn political scrutiny, with France’s president urging Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to investigate the involvement of Ukrainian intelligence agencies.

While both the ABC and the Guardian agree on the core details of the bombing and Berezovska’s subsequent murder, they differ in emphasis. The ABC focuses on the attack’s planning, Berezovska’s disguise, and the critical condition of Yermolaiev’s partner, while the Guardian delves deeper into the political implications, including the alleged role of Ukrainian intelligence and the circumstances of Berezovska’s killing. The Guardian also provides additional biographical details about Berezovska, including her 2021 conviction for petty hooliganism, and highlights the financial transactions linked to Yermolaiev’s family. The ABC, however, does not mention the political angle or the specifics of Berezovska’s murder.

The case remains unresolved in several key aspects, including whether Berezovska acted alone or with accomplices, the full extent of Ukrainian intelligence involvement, and the motives behind the attack. Ukrainian officials have promised further reports, while international pressure grows for transparency. The Guardian notes that the swift arrests of the suspects have raised speculation about internal rivalries within Ukraine’s intelligence agencies, while the ABC emphasizes the ongoing investigation into possible accomplices. Both outlets agree that the case has the potential to damage Ukraine’s reputation, particularly as it seeks to maintain Western support amid the ongoing war with Russia.