Ukrainian prosecutors released a video allegedly depicting the bombing in Monaco that severely injured magnate Vadym Yermolaiev and his family. The June 30 attack deeply unsettled the wealthy principality on the Mediterranean coast. The motive remains unclear, with investigators from Monaco, France, and Ukraine, along with Interpol, involved in the case.
Anastasiia Berezovska, the alleged perpetrator, was found dead in Ukraine days later. A Ukrainian military intelligence officer confessed to killing her but claimed to have acted independently, according to Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU).
The video, shared with The Associated Press on Saturday, shows a person with a hat and a bag placing an object at a building entrance before walking away. In the background, a man, a woman, and a child approach the entrance, followed by an explosion; the video then turns blurry.
Ukrainian Prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko stated on Telegram that the video came from a surveillance camera installed by the alleged perpetrators to ensure the attack’s success. The footage was initially deleted but restored by SBU specialists. Monaco’s prosecution has not commented on the video’s authenticity or the investigation’s status.
Yermolaiev’s lawyers issued a letter this week accusing Ukrainian security services of orchestrating the explosion and requesting protection for his family. In the letter, shared with French media, Yermolaiev claimed Ukraine’s military intelligence was directly involved in an attempt on his family’s lives. He stated that he remains hospitalized, his partner Anna suffers irreversible injuries, and his 13-year-old son endured burns and fractures.
Unusually, the letter thanks Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for personal attention to the case and unspecified assistance, according to French press reports. In 2023, Zelenskyy’s government sanctioned Yermolaiev due to his Russian ties, and he has reportedly renounced his Ukrainian citizenship. Zelenskyy has not commented on his involvement in the case.
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