Billionaire Ukrainian oligarch Vadim Ermolaev is reportedly among three people injured in an explosion in Monaco on Monday night, according to local media. The blast occurred shortly after 9pm on June 29 on Rue du Révérend Père Louis Frolla, a residential street in the principality.
Victims and Injuries
Three individuals, all believed to be Ukrainian, were hurt in the incident. Monaco Matin news outlet identified one victim as Vadim Ermolaev, one of Ukraine's richest men. It is understood he fled Ukraine following the recent conflict with Russia. The other casualties are a woman aged in her 50s or 60s and a teenage boy. Their conditions have not been disclosed.
Explosion Details
The explosion took place outside a residential building. Monaco's Minister of State suggested the incident is "likely to be an attack" and that the explosive device probably contained bolts and shrapnel. "Police services are currently gathering evidence," he stated. "To my knowledge, this is the first time in history that such an act has occurred in the Principality."
Suspect and Investigation
Monaco police are hunting for a suspect, reported the Mirror. CCTV footage captured a man leaving a backpack at the entrance of a residential building shortly before the explosion, according to French media. Images circulating on social media show the suspect dressed in a black long-sleeve top, bucket hat, and khaki trousers. No official identification has been provided. The suspect remains at large but has been tracked via CCTV moving through Monaco and towards Beausoleil. Officers from the Nice Anti-Crime Squad, along with emergency response units from Nice and Menton, have been dispatched to bolster the Beausoleil area.
