A woman suspected of involvement in the attempted murder of a Ukrainian oligarch in Monaco has been discovered deceased. Vadim Ermolaev, 58, sustained severe injuries in a blast outside his residence last month. Authorities circulated images of a person they were pursuing in connection with the incident.
Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman, was identified by Interpol as the suspected assailant in the Monaco assault on June 30. Ermolaev and two others were hospitalized as a result of the attack. Initially believed to be a man, it was later disclosed by the police that the suspect had disguised themselves. An arrest warrant was issued for Berezovska, who allegedly fled the scene on foot before driving to Germany.
An Interpol Red Notice issued on Friday indicated that Berezovska was wanted in Monaco for attempted murder, placing an explosive device with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy. She was born in Ukraine, speaks German, and was last known to be residing in Germany. Described as having dark hair and a tattoo, possibly of a snake on her right arm from shoulder to elbow, Berezovska has reportedly been found shot dead near Kyiv.
According to Ukrainian site Pravda, two suspects have been apprehended concerning her demise. One of them is a current officer of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense, while the other is a former law enforcement officer. A law enforcement source involved in the Monaco investigation labeled the suspect as “armed” and “dangerous.”
German police reported conducting searches of the rented accommodation and vehicle of a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman. They secured evidence to be handed over to Monaco authorities, stating that the wanted woman was currently evading capture. Monaco deputy prosecutor Morgan Raymond highlighted the complexity of the explosive device and modus operandi, suggesting that the perpetrator likely had accomplices. Two men detained in Monaco were released after no evidence linked them to the attack.
The explosion, caused by a parcel bomb, occurred at the entrance of an apartment building on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla around 9 pm local time. CCTV footage depicted the victims peacefully returning home before being caught in the blast as they entered the building. Monaco’s minister of state, Christophe Mirmand, emphasized that the family appeared to be targeted specifically. Surveillance footage revealed the suspect loitering in the vicinity before the attack and fleeing towards the nearby French town of Beausoleil after the explosion.