A suspected bomber was captured on camera walking away calmly moments before a massive explosion rocked a high-end apartment complex in an alleged assassination plot targeting a Ukrainian oligarch.
Authorities revealed that a backpack filled with explosives had been left in the entrance area of the Sun Palace apartment building just as property magnate Vadim Ermolaev, also known as Vadym Yermolaiev, along with his partner Anna Nasobina and their 13-year-old son Ariel were approaching the entrance.
Recently disclosed video footage from the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office shows an individual moving away while engaged in a phone conversation just before the explosion in Monaco on June 29. Investigators believe the person in the video is Anastasiia Berezovska, a Ukrainian national.
Interpol had previously identified Berezovska as the main suspect in the assassination attempt, labeling her as “armed” and “dangerous”. Following a shooting incident, the 39-year-old suspect was found deceased near Kyiv on July 6. She was wanted for charges related to attempted murder, placing an explosive device with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy.
Nasobina, aged 46, reportedly suffered the loss of both legs due to the blast. Ermolaev sustained severe burns and shrapnel injuries, while their 13-year-old son also sustained injuries.
Monaco’s deputy prosecutor, Morgan Raymond, stated that Berezovska had purportedly disguised herself as a man during the attack.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko mentioned that the surveillance footage was retrieved after the attackers had attempted to erase it. The footage played a crucial role in the investigation of the incident.
Vladyslav Reut, a Ukrainian military intelligence officer, and Vitalii Zhykovych, a former employee of Ukraine’s SBU security service, are facing charges related to Berezovska’s murder in court. Both defendants have denied the accusations.
Ermolaev accused officers from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, known as HUR, of orchestrating the bombing; however, he did not provide evidence to support his claim.
Investigators are exploring potential links between the bombing and allegations involving a network of fraudulent call centers in Ukraine that targeted victims across Europe, although no direct connection has been established.
Ermolaev, a prominent property developer ranked as Ukraine’s 39th wealthiest individual by Forbes in 2020, remains in intensive care. He highlighted the severe injuries suffered by Nasobina and their son, emphasizing that the attack was a deliberate attempt on their lives.
The attack has raised questions about possible motives and connections, but investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the incident.
