The body of 39-year-old Anastasiia Berezovska, a primary suspect in a parcel bombing incident in Monaco, has been discovered buried in a forest within the Kyiv region. According to Ukraine's security service (SBU) and the prosecutor general's office, the deceased had sustained gunshot wounds to the head. This development follows an international manhunt initiated by Interpol, which had issued a red notice for her arrest after she was accused of planting an explosive device in the lobby of an apartment building on 29 June.
The Investigation and Arrests
Official reports state that Anastasiia Berezovska returned to Ukraine on 1 July, two days after the attack, which left a Ukrainian multi-millionaire and his family injured. According to the SBU, she met two individuals on a highway in the Kyiv region shortly after her arrival. These two men, one of whom is currently an officer within Ukraine's Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the other a former law enforcement official, are now in custody. The prosecutor's office revealed that the victim traveled with these suspects before being killed. During the subsequent investigation, the intelligence officer confessed to the murder and admitted to acting in coordination with another individual. Both suspects are currently being held on charges of premeditated murder committed by a group.
Details of the Attack
Monaco's deputy prosecutor, Morgan Raymond, stated that the perpetrator had spent days monitoring the residence and wore a disguise as a man during the attack. The explosion occurred shortly after 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT), injuring three people, two of whom were severely hurt. Initially, it was believed that the suspect had escaped in a rental car to Italy and subsequently to Germany, where police conducted a search of an apartment in the central state of Hesse rented by a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman.
The Targeted Individual
While authorities in Monaco have not officially named the victims, reports identify them as real estate developer Vadym Yermolaiev and his family. Yermolaiev, a Cypriot citizen living in Monaco, was listed as the 39th wealthiest person in Ukraine by Forbes in 2020, with a reported fortune of $230m (£173.8m). He has held significant interests in the Crimean alcohol industry since the region was annexed by Russia in 2014, and he has been under sanctions imposed by the Kyiv government since 2023. Yermolaiev renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019.
Current Status of the Case
Ukrainian authorities are currently in close cooperation with officials in Monaco to share information and identify any additional suspects involved in the attack. During the search of the former law enforcement officer's property, investigators discovered a basement room resembling a torture chamber. While initial reports suggested a potential connection to the victim, the prosecutor general's office clarified that there was no evidence linking the room to the murder of Anastasiia Berezovska, stating the footage was released only to highlight the profile of one of the suspects. The investigation remains ongoing with the personal assistance of Oleg Ivashchenko, the head of the intelligence directorate. Police have also released CCTV imagery of Berezovska, highlighting a distinctive tattoo on her arm that appears to depict a snake.
