Monaco bombing suspect found dead near Kyiv as Ukrainian officer arrested, prosecutor says
Ukrainian authorities found the Monaco bombing suspect dead near Kyiv; a military intelligence officer was arrested and confessed, prosecutor says in Ukraine.
Ukrainian prosecutors announced on Tuesday that the body of a woman wanted in connection with a bomb attack in Monaco was discovered near Kyiv, while investigators detained a member of Ukraine’s military intelligence who has acknowledged involvement in her killing. The case involves a suspected attempt to assassinate a wealthy businessman of Ukrainian origin in Monaco last week, and has prompted international arrest requests including an Interpol red notice. Authorities said the developments mark a significant turn in an inquiry that spans Europe and Ukraine.
Suspect identified in Interpol notice
Police records show the woman was identified as Anastasiia Berezovska, 39, and listed in an Interpol red notice as a primary suspect in the Monaco incident. Ukrainian reporting indicated she spoke German and held Ukrainian nationality, details that were reflected in the international alert.
Monaco authorities had sought her detention on charges that include attempted murder, planting an explosive device in a public place for criminal purposes, and criminal conspiracy. The red notice and the formal requests from Monaco triggered coordinated inquiries across borders.
Prosecutor: intelligence officer arrested and confessed
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office said it had also detained an employee of the country’s military intelligence service in connection with the case. Officials stated that the intelligence officer confessed to killing the woman together with at least one other suspect.
Investigators described the confession as part of ongoing questioning and said additional detentions linked to the operation were made. Prosecutors cautioned that inquiries remain active and that legal proceedings would determine the full extent of involvement by detained individuals.
Circumstances of the body’s discovery near Kyiv
Local law enforcement sources cited by Ukrainian media reported that the woman’s body was found late on Monday near the capital, and appeared to have been shot. Officers said the body was located at about 11:00 p.m. local time (20:00 GMT) and a criminal investigation into the killing has been opened.
Forensic teams were reported to be processing the scene while prosecutors awaited formal autopsy results. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the identities of the other suspects who they say were involved in the killing.
Monaco attack wounded businessman and family
The initial incident in Monaco occurred last week and left a wealthy businessman of Ukrainian origin, identified as Vadim Yermolayev, his partner and his son with injuries. Local and Ukrainian media said the attack involved an explosive device in a public place and gunfire, though precise forensic reconstructions have not been released.
Monegasque investigators appealed for international cooperation as they pursued leads, and the nature of the injuries has prompted both criminal and security agencies to coordinate evidence-sharing across jurisdictions. Officials in Monaco have not published a full public timeline of the attack.
Charges sought by Monaco and cross-border legal steps
Monaco’s authorities have formally requested that Berezovska be detained on counts that include attempted murder and planting an explosive device for criminal purposes. Those charges, if sustained, carry serious penalties under Monegasque law and could trigger extradition processes if the suspect were found abroad.
Interpol’s involvement via a red notice facilitates cross-border searches but does not itself effect arrests; national authorities retain responsibility for detention and transfer under applicable treaties. Ukrainian prosecutors said they were working with foreign counterparts to ensure evidence and suspects are handled according to law.
Background on Vadim Yermolayev and prior sanctions
Public records and media reporting show that Vadim Yermolayev, the man injured in the Monaco incident, obtained Cypriot citizenship in 2019. Ukrainian authorities imposed sanctions on him in 2023, with Ukrainian outlets reporting those measures were linked to business activities in Crimea following its annexation by Russia.
Officials have not tied the sanctions directly to the Monaco attack but have noted Yermolayev’s public profile and cross-border business interests as part of investigative context. Monaco and Ukrainian investigators continue to examine motive and potential links to the victim’s commercial history.
The unfolding inquiry now spans criminal, intelligence and international cooperation channels as authorities seek to reconcile the Monaco investigation with the events in Ukraine. Prosecutors have signaled further detentions and legal steps may follow as forensic results and witness statements are collected.