Allegations of Ukrainian Intelligence Involvement in Monaco Explosion Surface
Moscow (ANTARA) - An assassination attempt against Ukrainian businessman Vadim Yermolayev in Monaco is strongly suspected to involve the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), according to a Russian official.
These allegations were made by the Extraordinary Ambassador of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rodion Miroshnik. “There is no doubt that the Ukrainian security service, individuals from intelligence circles, as well as criminal groups, are involved in this case,” Miroshnik told the Russian news agency, RIA Novosti, on Thursday.
According to Miroshnik, such incidents will continue to increase unless Ukraine receives a stern reprimand or punishment from the international community. However, he assessed that so far, there have been no indications that the international community is willing to impose sanctions on Ukraine over the event.
A powerful explosion shook Monaco on Monday evening local time. Local authorities confirmed that the incident injured three people, consisting of a man, a woman, and a child.
Silver Eye, the communications company representing Yermolayev, subsequently confirmed that the prominent businessman and his son were among those injured in the blast.
The French newspaper Le Figaro, quoting police sources on 29 June, reported that two of the three injured victims were in critical condition.
Based on CCTV footage, an unidentified man was seen leaving a backpack at the building entrance moments before others entered.
In response to the incident, Monaco’s Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, initially described the event as the first terrorist attack in the history of the principality. However, Monaco’s Attorney General, Stephane Thibault, stated that based on preliminary data, the explosion has not yet been classified as a terrorist attack.
Meanwhile, Le Figaro reported that the priority scenario for the Monacan investigative team currently points towards the suspicion that the explosion was orchestrated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The action is strongly suspected to be a form of severe warning against the businessman.