The International Criminal Police Organization, known as Interpol, has issued a red notice for a Ukrainian national, Anastasiia Berezovska, 39, in connection with a bombing at a Monaco apartment building. The incident, which occurred on June 30, reportedly targeted a Ukrainian-born construction magnate with alleged Russian ties.
Reports indicate that Vadym Yermolaiev, the 58-year-old business executive, sustained injuries in the explosion. Monaco's public prosecutor, Stéphane Thibault, confirmed that besides Yermolaiev, a woman and a 13-year-old child were also injured inside the apartment. Media outlets have widely suggested these individuals are members of Yermolaiev's family, though their names were not officially released.
Berezovska is currently wanted on several serious charges, including attempted murder, placing an explosive device on a public thoroughfare with criminal intent, and criminal association, according to the Interpol notice.
The international police agency described the suspect as a dark-haired, German-speaking woman, possibly identifiable by a snake tattoo on her arm.
Investigation Reveals Suspect's Identity
Initially, investigators believed the perpetrator was a heavy-set man. Monaco Deputy Prosecutor Morgan Raymond even referred to the suspect using masculine pronouns in early statements.
He stood up a few meters ahead of the victims, placed an explosive device taken from his shopping bag on the entrance steps of the building, then turned to confirm the presence of the three victims before triggering the explosion using a remote control.
However, a review of security footage from the days leading up to the incident led to a significant shift in the investigation. Detectives observed a man in a fishing hat repeatedly surveying the apartment building and its vicinity. Crucially, on June 28, this man was absent from the surveillance recordings. Instead, a woman, now identified by prosecutors as Berezovska, was seen performing similar reconnaissance activities.
The repeated reconnaissance operations and the pauses made in front of the building clearly demonstrate the intention to specifically target the three victims.
The complexity of the explosive device used has led prosecutors to believe that Berezovska likely did not act alone.
The relative sophistication of the explosive device and the modus operandi appear to indicate that the person who placed the device was not acting alone.
Fugitive's Trail and Charges
Authorities traced Berezovska's escape route, which reportedly took her across the border from Monaco into France, through Italy, and ultimately into Germany. German law enforcement is now actively pursuing her, and her apartment in Frankfurt was reportedly raided on Thursday.
Alleged Target's Controversial Background
While officials have not publicly stated a motive for the attack, the background of the alleged target, Vadym Yermolaiev, is noteworthy. The 58-year-old construction magnate reportedly renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2017 and has held Cypriot citizenship since 2019, according to Ukrainian media.
In 2023, the Ukrainian government imposed sanctions on Yermolaiev. These sanctions stemmed from allegations that he continued to engage with Russia, paid taxes to Moscow, and facilitated business transactions through his liquor enterprise in Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
