Ukraine security-linked men accused in killing of Anastasiia Berezovska

Anastasiia Berezovska was killed and her body dumped in woods after a Monaco apartment-block blast injured three people, including a 13-year-old child. A serving officer in military intelligence confessed to the killing and was detained alongside a former law enforcement officer.

The explosion ripped through the lobby of a residential building just before 9 p.m. on June 29 and was treated by Monaco prosecutors as an attempted murder case, not terrorism. The attack appeared targeted, and surveillance footage showed a suspect leaving a bag or package before fleeing. Monaco’s prosecutor said the blast was the first of its kind in the principality.

The apparent target was Vadym Yermolaiev, a Dnipro businessman who had lived in Monaco since 2021. Ukraine sanctioned Yermolaiev in 2023 over business ties to Russian-annexed Crimea and Russia-linked activity, and he has denied the allegations.

Interpol issued a Red Notice for Berezovska on July 3. The 39-year-old Ukrainian citizen returned to Ukraine on July 1 and was wanted on charges including attempted murder, placing an explosive device on a public road, and membership in a criminal organization. Her contacts led investigators to two men now in custody, one a former law enforcement officer and the other an active officer in Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.

A search of the former officer’s residence turned up a basement room resembling a torture chamber. Berezovska’s body was found with gunshot wounds to the head, and investigators recovered spent bullet casings. Ukrainian law enforcement is still working to identify who ordered the Monaco attack and has shared all available information with investigators in Monaco.