A massive explosion rocked Monaco, leaving a Ukrainian billionaire oligarch and his wife in critical condition. Vadim Ermolaev, a 58-year-old real estate magnate and one of Ukraine’s wealthiest individuals, is reported to have fled the country following Russia’s invasion. Authorities are searching for a suspect who was caught on CCTV discarding a backpack on Rue du Révérend Père Louis Frolla, with Monaco’s Minister of State Christophe Mirmand labeling the incident as a “deliberate explosion.”
The explosive device, suspected to be a “parcel bomb” containing bolts and shot, caused injuries to Ermolaev, his wife, and a 13-year-old boy. The suspect fled towards the neighboring town of Beausoleil in France, triggering a large-scale emergency response involving 50 firefighters from Monaco and 10 from France, along with 84 police officers. Monaco’s leader, Prince Albert II, condemned the attack as “odious,” emphasizing close collaboration with French authorities in the investigation.
Forensic teams worked late into the night gathering evidence at the scene, and a press conference was held by government officials to provide updates on the investigation. Ermolaev, a prominent figure in Ukraine’s industrial sector, has faced sanctions related to his business activities in Russian-occupied Crimea. The suspect, identified through surveillance footage, triggered a manhunt as police intensify efforts to locate and apprehend him.
French rescue teams have been deployed to assist Monaco’s emergency services, with a significant police presence established in the area. Ermolaev’s partner, among the injured, was one of the individuals taken to the hospital for treatment. The incident has drawn widespread attention, with local residents expressing shock and concern over the attack in the usually peaceful principality. The hunt for the suspect continues as authorities strive to uncover the motives behind this unprecedented act of violence in Monaco.