The investigation into a rare bombing in Monaco has drawn international attention after authorities identified 39-year-old Anastasiia Berezovska as the main suspect in what prosecutors describe as an attempted assassination targeting Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev. The attack, which took place at the entrance of a luxury residential building, shocked the tiny Mediterranean principality, a country known for its exceptionally low violent crime rate and extensive security infrastructure. Investigators believe the bombing was carefully planned, involved sophisticated explosives, and may have required the participation of multiple people.
Berezovska has since become the subject of an international manhunt, with an Interpol Red Notice issued as authorities across Monaco, France, Germany, and Italy continue their investigation. Prosecutors allege that she disguised herself as a man while carrying out surveillance and executing the attack before fleeing across multiple European countries. Although many questions remain unanswered, investigators have revealed several significant details about the suspect, the bombing, and the ongoing multinational investigation.
Who Is Anastasiia Berezovska and Why Is She Wanted?
According to Monaco’s prosecutors, Anastasiia Berezovska is a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman who is now the primary suspect in the bombing that seriously injured Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev along with two other people. Authorities have circulated her identity internationally through an Interpol Red Notice as they attempt to locate and arrest her.
Investigators say Berezovska most recently resided in Germany before allegedly traveling to Monaco to prepare for the attack. Authorities have also released identifying information, noting that she has a distinctive tattoo, believed to depict a snake, extending down her right arm from her shoulder to her elbow. This physical characteristic is expected to assist law enforcement agencies across Europe in identifying her.
One of the most striking elements of the investigation is the alleged disguise used by the suspect. Initial surveillance photographs released shortly after the explosion appeared to show a man fleeing the scene wearing a black sweater, light-colored trousers, and a black bucket hat. Investigators later concluded that the individual was actually Berezovska disguised as a man, with her hair concealed beneath the hat to alter her appearance.
Security camera footage reportedly captured the suspect visiting the area several times before the bombing. During these reconnaissance trips, prosecutors say she consistently wore the same masculine disguise while observing the apartment building and its surroundings. This repeated surveillance has led investigators to believe the attack was extensively planned rather than carried out spontaneously.
Authorities further allege that after planting the explosive device inside the entrance of the residential building, Berezovska waited until the intended targets approached. Prosecutors claim she turned to confirm their arrival before remotely detonating the bomb. If confirmed, the sequence would indicate a deliberate and highly coordinated assassination attempt.
Following the explosion, investigators say the suspect escaped Monaco and crossed into neighboring France before continuing to Italy in a German-registered rental vehicle allegedly obtained specifically for the operation. The cross-border escape has significantly expanded the investigation, requiring cooperation between multiple European law enforcement agencies.
A 39-year-old Ukrainian woman has been named as the suspect in a bomb attack in Monaco, which badly injured a sanctioned Ukrainian-born tycoon and two others.
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) July 3, 2026
Anastasiia Berezovska was identified in a Red Notice published by Interpol seeking her arrest.
Monaco prosecutors said… pic.twitter.com/ZBvKy91ukT
Monaco prosecutors have also suggested that the complexity of the explosive device indicates that Berezovska may not have acted alone. They believe additional individuals may have participated in planning or supporting the operation. Although two men were arrested in Monaco during the early stages of the investigation, both were later released after authorities determined there was insufficient evidence to justify further detention. The investigation remains active, and officials have not ruled out additional suspects.
Meanwhile, German police confirmed that they searched both the rental apartment and vehicle associated with the 39-year-old Ukrainian suspect. Evidence recovered during those searches is expected to be shared with investigators in Monaco as authorities continue piecing together the events leading up to the bombing.
The Monaco Bombing That Targeted Vadym Yermolaiev
The attack occurred as Vadym Yermolaiev and two companions returned to their luxury apartment building after dining at a restaurant along Monaco’s coastline. Prosecutors allege that the explosive device had already been placed inside the building’s entranceway before the group arrived home.
According to investigators, the bomb exploded as the victims entered the building, causing devastating injuries. Yermolaiev, another adult, and a child were initially reported among those injured. Prosecutors later updated the situation, stating that one victim remains in life-threatening condition, another sustained serious injuries, and the third suffered comparatively minor injuries. Additionally, two pedestrians outside the building were hurt by flying glass produced by the blast.
Authorities have not publicly identified the woman and child who were injured during the explosion. However, officials clarified that the injured adult woman was not Yermolaiev’s wife. She later confirmed publicly that she was not present at the residence during the attack and escaped injury.
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Although prosecutors have not yet announced an official motive, they have repeatedly characterized the bombing as an attempted assassination specifically targeting Yermolaiev. Investigators have not disclosed whether the motive may involve business interests, personal disputes, political factors, or another cause. At this stage, officials continue examining all possible lines of inquiry while withholding additional investigative details.
The bombing has attracted enormous attention because such incidents are almost unheard of in Monaco. The tiny principality is internationally recognized as one of Europe’s safest jurisdictions, supported by an exceptionally large police presence relative to its population and territory. Hundreds of police officers patrol an area smaller than New York City’s Central Park, while an extensive network of surveillance cameras monitors nearly every public location.
Officials noted that Monaco recorded no homicides or attempted murders during the previous year, making the bombing a dramatic departure from the country’s normal security environment. The attack has therefore raised concerns about organized criminal activity and sophisticated cross-border operations capable of bypassing one of Europe’s most heavily monitored urban environments.
Investigators believe the extensive surveillance conducted before the attack reflects careful preparation. Security cameras reportedly documented repeated visits to the building by an individual matching the suspect’s appearance. Those visits allowed prosecutors to reconstruct a timeline showing the suspect scouting the area several times before the bombing eventually took place.
The alleged use of remote detonation has further reinforced investigators’ belief that the operation required technical knowledge and careful planning. Authorities continue conducting forensic examinations of the explosive device in hopes of identifying its origin, construction methods, and any additional individuals who may have assisted in acquiring or assembling it.
International Investigation Continues Across Europe
The search for Anastasiia Berezovska has quickly expanded beyond Monaco into several European countries. Authorities say the suspect’s alleged escape route crossed Monaco, France, Italy, and Germany, transforming the investigation into a multinational effort involving police, prosecutors, and international organizations.
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Interpol’s issuance of a Red Notice represents one of the most significant developments in the case. While a Red Notice is not itself an international arrest warrant, it serves as a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally detain a wanted individual pending possible extradition or other legal proceedings. Its publication reflects the seriousness with which authorities are treating the Monaco bombing.
German investigators have already taken an active role in the case. Police confirmed searches of property connected to the suspect, including her rental accommodation and the German-registered vehicle allegedly used during the operation. Investigators are examining any physical evidence, electronic devices, travel records, or forensic material that could help reconstruct the planning and execution of the attack.
French and Italian authorities have also become involved because investigators believe Berezovska traveled through both countries immediately after the bombing. Cross-border cooperation has become essential as prosecutors attempt to verify the suspect’s movements, identify possible accomplices, and determine whether logistical support was provided at any stage of the alleged escape.
Investigators continue analyzing surveillance footage from multiple locations to establish a complete timeline covering the suspect’s arrival in Monaco, reconnaissance activities, execution of the bombing, and departure from the principality. Authorities are also reviewing vehicle rental records, border crossings, telecommunications data, and financial transactions that may provide additional insight into the planning of the operation.
The investigation remains far from complete, and prosecutors have emphasized that numerous questions still require answers. Authorities have not announced a confirmed motive, nor have they publicly identified any organization or individual believed to have directed the attack. Similarly, while prosecutors suspect additional participants may have been involved because of the sophistication of the explosive device, no further arrests have been announced following the release of the two initially detained men.
For Vadym Yermolaiev and the other victims, recovery continues while investigators pursue those responsible. Medical updates indicate that at least one victim remains in critical condition, highlighting the severe consequences of the explosion. The attack has also prompted renewed discussion about security even in jurisdictions traditionally regarded as among the safest in Europe.
As law enforcement agencies continue coordinating across national borders, the search for Anastasiia Berezovska remains one of the highest-profile investigations currently involving Monaco. Whether prosecutors ultimately establish additional suspects, identify a definitive motive, or successfully apprehend the woman named in the Interpol Red Notice will likely determine the next major developments in a case that has already become one of the most extraordinary criminal investigations the principality has faced in recent years.