Ukrainian multimillionaire Vadym Yermolaiev has publicly accused Kyiv's military intelligence agency, the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), of orchestrating a bomb attack in Monaco that left him, his partner, and their 13-year-old son seriously injured. The explosion occurred on June 29 in the foyer of the Sun Palace apartment building, where the family resided.
Details of the Attack
A homemade bomb packed with bolts and pellets detonated in the building's entrance, causing catastrophic injuries. Yermolaiev's partner, Anna Nasobina, lost both legs in the blast. The oligarch and his son suffered severe injuries, including burns, fractures, and trauma. Yermolaiev remains hospitalized in intensive care and faces a long recovery involving multiple surgeries.
In a statement released through his lawyers, Yermolaiev asserted: "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." He further alleged that former or senior HUR officials were aware of the plot, though he did not provide evidence.
Investigation and Suspects
The prime suspect, Ukrainian citizen Anastasiia Berezovska, was found dead near Kyiv on July 6, reportedly shot. A serving HUR officer, Vladyslav Reut, appeared in court last week charged with her murder, alongside co-defendant Vitalii Zhykovych, an SBU officer. Both have pleaded not guilty. Reut initially confessed to killing Berezovska but later retracted, blaming Zhykovych, whose lawyer denies the allegation.
Yermolaiev's Background
Yermolaiev was ranked as the 39th richest Ukrainian in Forbes' 2020 list, with a fortune of £172 million from property development. In 2023, Kyiv imposed sanctions on him for his business interests in wine and alcohol in Russian-occupied Crimea.
Official Response
Andriy Yusov, a HUR spokesman, denied the allegations, calling them "subjective political statements" and warning they could hinder the investigation. Yermolaiev described the attack as an attempted murder, stating: "The explosion was so violent that it ripped off the metal railings and shattered the stone steps of our home. This was not a warning. It was an attempted murder."
