Monaco Bombing Suspect Found Shot Dead in Ukraine; Intelligence Officer Arrested
A woman who was on an Interpol wanted list over a bombing in Monaco last week has reportedly been found dead in Ukraine. Following the discovery of the body, law enforcement moved swiftly and arrested a Ukrainian military intelligence officer strongly suspected of involvement in the bomber’s murder.
Citing a Reuters report, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed via Telegram that the body of Anastasiya Berezovska was found with a gunshot wound to the head near the capital Kyiv on Monday (6 July) at 11pm local time. Berezovska was a 39-year-old Ukrainian citizen wanted by Monaco police on charges of attempted murder using an improvised bomb on 29 June.
The authorities have so far detained two men who are the main suspects in Berezovska’s execution: one is an active employee of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Military Intelligence (HUR), and the other is a former police officer. According to digital tracing, the two suspects had been in intensive communication with Berezovska since the fugitive returned to Ukraine on 1 July, and had transferred funds to her bank account and crypto wallet.
During questioning, the HUR employee eventually confessed that he and the other suspect had taken Berezovska’s life. In addition to finding pistol cartridges near where the body was discovered, police who searched the former police officer’s home were also shocked to find a basement designed to resemble a torture chamber.
“He also stated that he did not inform his superiors or commander about his contact with Berezovska, the money transfers, or any other actions, and acted on his own initiative,” the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office wrote in its official statement.
Sanctioned Ukrainian businessman
The bombing attributed to Berezovska in Monaco last week is known to have targeted a Ukrainian-born property developer, Vadym Yermolaiev, along with his partner and son, leaving them seriously injured. The victim, who became a Cypriot citizen seven years ago, had been placed under economic sanctions by the Ukrainian government in 2023.
Local media reported that the harsh sanctions were imposed because Yermolaiev was accused of continuing illegal business activities in Crimea, the territory annexed by Russia. Although Yermolaiev has repeatedly denied the business allegations, the bombing incident is strongly suspected to have a political motive and the involvement of a wider criminal conspiracy network.
Before being found dead and silenced, Berezovska had managed to evade the Monaco authorities by fleeing on foot to France, before escaping by car through Italy and Germany to return to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office stressed that the full investigation dossier has now been shared with the Monaco authorities in order to uncover the main masterminds who ordered the bomb attack.