Monaco authorities have identified a suspect in a parcel bombing last week that targeted Ukrainian businessman Vadym Iermolaiev and members of his family, injuring a woman and a child. The attack occurred on the evening of June 30 on Rue Révérend-Père-Louis-Frolla as the victims were reportedly returning home.
CCTV footage circulating in Ukrainian media showed a person fleeing the scene shortly after the explosion. While initial reports described the suspect as a man, French officials later clarified that the individual was a woman disguised in male clothing. Prosecutors said the attacker remotely detonated a booby-trapped bag placed in the lobby of the building as the family approached.
The two adults injured were taken to hospital in critical condition, with the woman suffering the loss of both legs. Investigators have suggested that more than one person may have been involved in orchestrating the bombing, though no additional suspects have been publicly named.
Interpol released a photo identifying the suspect as Anastasiia Berezovska. Prosecutor Stéphanie Thibault noted that Berezovska traveled through multiple European countries in a vehicle bearing German license plates, with her last registered address in Germany. Thibault praised the collaboration between Monaco’s police and international agencies, stating this cooperation enabled a swift identification of the suspect.
The motives behind the attack remain unclear. Denis Selin, head of the anti-corruption group Public Control, suggested the bombing might be related to Iermolaiev’s business activities in occupied territories. Contrasting views emerged from Ukrainian police sources, who linked the incident to an unrelated investigation into a fraudulent call centre network operating in Dnipro, in which Iermolaiev has been implicated. French authorities reportedly suspect criminal networks with ties to this case may have orchestrated the attack.
The call centre operation has connections to Russian criminal elements, including Chechen gangs believed to be responsible for scams defrauding Russian pensioners. Separately, the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Ihor Komarov’s son in Bali—an incident involving Chechen gangsters demanding ransom—highlight the violent methods used by some groups in the region. However, officials have not established a direct connection between the Monaco bombing and Chechen criminal organizations.
Iermolaiev has denied involvement in the fraud case. Meanwhile, investigations into the Monaco attack continue amid ongoing efforts to clarify the motives and identify any additional parties involved.