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Monaco Explosion Critically Wounds Ukrainian‑Born Businessman

Following the discovery of the named suspect shot dead in Ukraine, the detention of two Ukrainian nationals has widened the inquiry across borders.

Overview

  • A remotely detonated explosive device went off in the Sun Palace lobby on 29 June as Vadim Ermolaev, his companion and their 13-year-old son passed, leaving the adults very seriously injured and the boy less badly hurt.
  • All three victims remain hospitalized in Nice with Ermolaev reported as stabilised and his companion still in a life-threatening condition according to Monaco’s prosecutor.
  • Monaco named Anastassia Berezovska as the primary suspect and Ukrainian authorities later reported her body was found with gunshot wounds to the head on 6 July.
  • Ukrainian authorities have arrested two men, an ex-policeman and a current GUR intelligence employee, and the GUR employee has admitted to killing Berezovska while saying he did not inform superiors.
  • Monaco has assigned two examining judges and is sharing evidence with Ukraine and other states while investigators say no motive has been established, a situation complicated by Ermolaev’s past sanctions over business in annexed Crimea.