Full Breakdown
Murder of Monaco Bomb Suspect Raises Questions About Ukrainian Intelligence Links
7/11/2026, 8:25:34 PM
Core Event: Killing of Anastasiia Berezovska
Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian citizen identified by Interpol as the prime suspect in the June 29, 2026 parcel-bomb attack in Monaco, was found dead in a forest near Kyiv on July 6, 2026. The body showed two gunshot wounds to the head and pistol cartridges were recovered at the scene. Ukrainian prosecutors have detained two men – military-intelligence officer Vladyslav Reut and former law-enforcement officer Vitaliy Zhykovych – on suspicion of pre-meditated murder.
Background & Context
The Monaco explosion injured Ukrainian-born billionaire Vadym Yermolaiev, his partner and their 13-year-old son. Yermolaiev, who renounced Ukrainian citizenship for Cypriot nationality in 2019, has been under Ukrainian sanctions since 2023 for alleged business in Russian-occupied Crimea. CCTV captured Berezovska disguised as a man placing a bag-type device in the building’s entrance hall; the device detonated as the family entered. After the blast she fled through France, Italy and Germany, returning to Ukraine on July 1, 2026, the day Ukrainian authorities opened a criminal investigation.
Key Figures
- Anastasiia Berezovska – suspected bomb-placer; previously lived in Frankfurt and Zhytomyr, where she bred dogs and was convicted of petty hooliganism in 2021.
- Vladyslav Reut – 33-year-old officer of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR/GUR), former law-student, accused of recruiting Zhykovych for the killing.
- Vitaliy Zhykovych – former Kyiv-region policeman, alleged shooter.
- Vadym Yermolaiev – sanctioned Ukrainian oligarch, target of the Monaco attack.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy – President of Ukraine, pledged further updates.
- Emmanuel Macron – President of France, urged a thorough investigation.
Timeline
- June 29, 2026 – Parcel bomb explodes in Monaco, injuring Yermolaiev’s family.
- July 1, 2026 – Berezovska returns to Ukraine by bus from Poland.
- July 3, 2026 – Reut and Zhykovych pick up Berezovska in a black BMW on the Kyiv-Chop highway.
- July 6, 2026 – Berezovska’s body discovered in a forest near Kyiv.
- July 9, 2026 – Kyiv’s Pechersk District Court orders pre-trial detention of Reut and Zhykovych without bail.
Official Statements & Responses
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expects “further reports” in the coming days and will “update the public.” French President Emmanuel Macron called on Zelenskyy to “punish those responsible.” The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office announced that the two suspects are held without bail and that Ukraine is “open to full cooperation” with Monaco’s authorities. Ukraine’s State Border Service reported that Berezovska entered the country “lawfully” via a regular crossing, with no Interpol alerts triggered. Parliamentary deputy Oleksandr Merezhko warned that the rapid arrests could be seen as evidence of an “effective operation” by Ukrainian law-enforcement agencies.
Criticism & Opposition
Investigative journalist Mykhailo Tkach warned that “it would be hard to imagine a worse scenario” and that an explanation may be required at the highest level regarding possible GUR involvement. Anti-corruption activist Denis Selin suggested the attack could be linked to Yermolaiev’s alleged role in a fraudulent call-centre network, while other sources argue the motive may be personal protection-money disputes. The presence of a basement “resembling a torture chamber” in Zhykovych’s home has been highlighted, though the prosecutor general stated there is no evidence it relates to the murder.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reut initially confessed to shooting Berezovska but later retracted, claiming Zhykovych fired the fatal shots. Court testimony records Reut saying Zhykovych “fired the first shot… then fired the second,” while Zhykovych’s lawyer denies the allegation. Investigators have not confirmed whether the alleged torture chamber was used, and the precise motive behind both the Monaco bombing and the subsequent murder remains unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — Vladyslav Reut, court testimony
- “I will insist on taking a polygraph to prove my innocence.” — Vladyslav Reut
- “Responding to a question from the Guardian, Zelenskyy said he expected to receive “further reports” in the next few days about the “widely reported” incident in Monaco.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- “The unusual thing is that the perpetrators were caught so quickly. That could be interpreted as evidence of a swift and effective operation by our law enforcement agencies.” — Oleksandr Merezhko
- “I have assured that Ukraine is open to full cooperation in accordance with international legal procedures. I am counting on the same stance ?from our partners in the Principality ?of Monaco,” — Ruslan Kravchenko, Prosecutor General
What’s Next
Ukrainian authorities have pledged continued cooperation with Monaco and plan to identify any additional conspirators. President Zelenskyy has indicated that further investigative reports will be released in the coming days, while the two suspects await trial on charges of intentional murder committed by prior conspiracy.
