Newly released CCTV footage from the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office appears to show a suspect walking away while speaking on a mobile phone moments before a bomb exploded outside the Sun Palace apartment building in Monaco on June 29. The explosion seriously injured Ukrainian oligarch Vadim Ermolaev, his partner Anna Nasobina, and their 13-year-old son Ariel.
Suspect Identified and Later Found Dead
Investigators believe the suspect is Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian national. Interpol had previously identified her as the prime suspect, describing her as “armed” and “dangerous.” Berezovska was later found dead near Kyiv on July 6 after being shot. She had been wanted on suspicion of attempted murder, placing an explosive device on a public road with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy.
Injuries and Investigation
Nasobina, 46, reportedly lost both legs as a result of the explosion. Ermolaev suffered severe burns and shrapnel wounds, while their son also sustained injuries. Monaco deputy prosecutor Morgan Raymond stated that Berezovska allegedly disguised herself as a man during the attack.
Ukraine's Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said the footage was recovered after those behind the attack allegedly tried to delete it. He stated: “Thanks to the professional work of the specialists of the Security Service of Ukraine, one of the key pieces of evidence, which the suspects tried to destroy, was successfully restored. This involves a video recording from the surveillance camera, which the perpetrators had previously installed near the crime scene to obtain confirmation of the order. Despite the fact that this evidence was deleted, the specialists of the SBU were able to restore it.”
Charges and Allegations
Ukrainian military intelligence officer Vladyslav Reut appeared in court charged with Berezovska's murder alongside co-defendant Vitalii Zhykovych, who until recently worked for Ukraine's SBU security service. Both men deny the charges.
Ermolaev has accused officers from Ukraine's military intelligence agency, known as HUR, of orchestrating the bombing. He did not provide evidence to support the allegation. In a statement released through his lawyers, he claimed: “Based on the investigative evidence available to us, we have no doubt that serving officers of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, commonly known as HUR, were directly involved in this attempted assassination.”
A spokesman for HUR denied the allegation, describing the claims as “subjective political statements” and warning they could damage the investigation.
Possible Links and Victim's Statement
Investigators have also been examining whether the bombing could be linked to allegations surrounding a network of fraudulent call centres in Ukraine that allegedly targeted victims across Europe. No connection has been established.
Ermolaev, a property developer ranked Ukraine's 39th richest person by Forbes in 2020, said he remains in intensive care. He stated that Nasobina suffered “catastrophic and irreversible injuries,” while their son sustained burns, fractures, and other serious injuries. “This was not a warning,” he said. “It was an attempt to kill not only me, but my family as well.”
