Ukraine wants joint investigation in Monaco bomb case after suspect found dead, top prosecutor says
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said he held consultations with his Monaco counterpart on Friday as authorities are looking into a high-profile bombing targeting a Ukrainian-born businessman.
Kravchenko called for a joint group to continue the investigation after a major suspect was found dead near Ukraine’s capital in a statement on Telegram on Tuesday.
“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,” he said.
This news comes after three people were wounded on June 29 in a parcel bomb explosion in the wealthy principality, which was believed to be an attack on a Ukrainian-born oligarch. The female suspect, Anastasiia Berezovska, was believed to have fled on foot to France, which does not have border checks with Monaco. She then allegedly drove to Germany via several European countries, including Italy.
Though authorities initially issued an arrest warrant for the suspect, Ukrainska Pravda, a Ukrainian news outlet, reported that the woman was shot and her body was found close to 11 p.m. local time (2 a.m. Israel time) on July 3.
This was later confirmed by Ukraine’s prosecutor-general’s office.
Two suspects for the bomber’s death are in custody
Two suspects for Berezovska’s murder have reportedly already been detained in connection with the case, one of whom is an officer with the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR). The other is a former law enforcement officer, Ukrainska Pravda said.
In a statement on Thursday, the Prosecutor General’s Office said the court in Kyiv had ordered the two suspects to be held in detention without bail.
Ukrainian media, citing court proceedings, said the HUR employee had retracted his confession, saying the other defendant had fired the shots and that he had confessed out of fear for his life.
Berezovska was wanted by authorities in Monaco on charges of attempted murder, placing an explosive device in a public place with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy.
Monaco prosecutor Stephane Thibault told reporters he held a video call with Ukrainian prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko earlier on Friday to exchange information.
Thibault said investigators were looking at “all options,” and that there was no information yet on the motive for the bomb or where it came from.
Kravchenko said an international investigative team should be set up quickly.
The initial attack targeted members of the Monaco Jewish community
Cypriot-Ukrainian Vadym Yermolaiev, who was wounded in the targeted explosion, is Jewish and an active member of the Dnipro Jewish community.
Vadym Yermolaiev, his wife, Anna Innokentiivna Yermolaeva, and their 13-year-old son David were hospitalized after an explosive device was set off at the entrance to their house.
According to Ukrainska Pravda, both of Yermolaiev’s wife’s legs were partially severed in the explosion, and doctors performed a double amputation.
Regional outlets in the Côte d’Azur reported that Yermolaiev sustained burns and shrapnel injuries, but he is reportedly conscious. The boy reportedly sustained burns and bruises, and a bolt from the explosive device is said to have lodged in his leg.
Mathilda Heller and Ruby Sadikman contributed to this report.
