European authorities are intensifying their search for Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman suspected of planting a bomb in Monaco that injured three people, including a Ukrainian-born tycoon and his teenage son. The attack occurred on Monday, and an Interpol Red Notice has been issued for her arrest on charges of attempted murder, placing an explosive device on a public road with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy.
Suspect's Escape Route
According to Morgan Raymond, Monaco's deputy public prosecutor, after the explosion, Berezovska is believed to have walked to the nearby French town of Beausoleil, retrieved her rental car, and driven through Italy to Germany, her last known country of residence. German law enforcement searched her rented apartment near Frankfurt on Thursday, but she remains at large. Evidence from the search will be handed over to Monaco authorities.
The prosecutor noted that the sophistication of the explosive device and the modus operandi suggest the suspect did not act alone. He confirmed that the individual was a woman posing as a man. Monaco's police chief, Eric Arella, stated that the suspect was identified within 53 hours due to exceptional mobilization of public security personnel and cooperation with countries including France.
Victims and Attack Details
Authorities have not officially confirmed the victims' identities, but sources indicate the target was Vadym Yermolaiev, 58, a wealthy businessman originally from Ukraine and now a Cypriot national. He was with his partner and his 13-year-old son at the time of the blast. The explosion occurred at 8:58 pm on Monday in the entrance hall of an apartment building near the French border, just as the trio returned from dinner. The suspect, captured on CCTV wearing a black fisherman's hat, had conducted several reconnaissance visits in the days prior. She waited on a bench before placing the explosive device, taken from a shopping bag, and detonated it remotely.
The couple sustained serious injuries; the man suffered severe burns, and the woman was in critical condition. As of Friday, Yermolaiev's condition had stabilized, but his partner's life remained in danger. The child was admitted to a children's hospital in Nice in non-critical condition.
Suspect Description and Background
Interpol released two photographs of Berezovska, showing dark shoulder-length hair. The Red Notice mentions a tattoo on her right arm, possibly depicting a snake, and that she speaks German. Ukrainian authorities have launched an investigation since the woman and child are Ukrainian citizens.
Prince Albert II of Monaco described the attack as a heinous crime. The bombing has shocked the ultra-secure microstate, which is a haven for the world's ultra-rich.
Yermolaiev's Business and Sanctions
Vadym Yermolaiev, a resident of Monaco since at least 2021, has been subject to Ukrainian sanctions since December 2023 due to his business activities in Crimea, annexed by Russia. In 2021, Forbes Ukraine estimated his fortune at $220 million, ranking him the country's 45th richest person. A source told AFP that many would have wanted to target the construction magnate in Dnipro, where he made his wealth. His son, Artur Yermolaiev, 35, was convicted of fraud in Estonia this year for running a fake investment phone scam that defrauded around 100 million euros.
