A suspect in the murder of Anastasiia Berezovska, the woman accused of planting a bomb outside a Ukrainian oligarch's home in Monaco, has appeared in court and implicated Ukrainian military intelligence in her killing.
Court Hearing Reveals Details of Murder
Vladyslav Reut, 33, appeared in a Kyiv court on Thursday, accused of murdering Berezovska. He identified his alleged accomplice as Vitalii Zhykovych, a former Kyiv region police officer. Reut claimed Zhykovych shot Berezovska in the back of the head in a forest near the village of Yuriv, 60 km west of Kyiv. “Zhykovych fired the first shot at her in the back of the head. She fell down. He came up and fired another shot. I was standing a few metres away at that moment,” Reut told the judge. He said four shots were fired, and Zhykovych forced him to dig a hole, took Berezovska's belongings, and removed her trainers. Reut added, “I will insist on taking a polygraph to prove my innocence.” Zhykovych's lawyer denied the allegations.
Link to Ukrainian Intelligence
Ukrainian media reported that Reut worked for Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency and served in unit A2772, a training centre for special operations forces. The SBU intelligence agency said it found Berezovska's body after the men confessed and recovered bullet casings from the forest. The SBU also published footage of a “torture chamber” in Zhykovych's home, but investigators later clarified Berezovska was not tortured before her murder.
Background of the Monaco Bombing
French police named Berezovska as the person seen on CCTV leaving a rucksack outside a Monaco apartment block. The rucksack exploded, injuring Ukrainian businessman Vadym Iermolaiev as he emerged with his partner and their 13-year-old child. Berezovska, 39, disguised as a man, fled in a car with German plates, crossing into France and Italy. On 1 July, she travelled to Ukraine, catching a bus to Zhytomyr. Officials announced on Tuesday that her body was found in woods near the capital.
Political Fallout and Questions
The case is embarrassing for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, even if officials say the two men acted alone. French President Emmanuel Macron urged Zelenskyy to investigate. Responding to a question from the Guardian, Zelenskyy said he expected to receive “further reports” in the next few days and promised to update the public. Investigative journalist Mykhailo Tkach said, “It would be hard to imagine a worse scenario. It will be very difficult to explain whether certain government officials – in particular from the GUR – were involved.”
Oligarch's Background
In 2023, Ukraine imposed personal sanctions on Iermolaiev, one of Ukraine's richest citizens with a fortune estimated by Forbes at $220 million. The SBU accused him of trading alcohol in occupied Crimea and paying taxes to Russia. Iermolaiev described the charges as “absolutely surreal” and said he donated money to Ukraine's military. His son, Artur, was accused of creating a criminal organization involved in telephone fraud and received a suspended sentence after paying €8.5 million.
A source who knows Iermolaiev suggested the bombing and murder were criminal rather than political acts, possibly related to a dispute over protection money. “The woman was disposable,” the source said.
Unanswered Questions
Details of Berezovska's life are still emerging. She had been staying in Frankfurt, where German police searched her apartment. Before that, she lived in Zhytomyr, breeding dogs. In 2021, a court found her guilty of petty hooliganism for insulting another woman while intoxicated. Questions remain about how Berezovska crossed back into Ukraine lawfully, as the border service said no Interpol alerts indicated she was wanted at the time. The speed of the arrests has surprised observers, with some speculating about animosity between the SBU and GUR. Parliamentary deputy Oleksandr Merezhko said, “I hope it will not have a serious impact. But our allies deserve an explanation.”
