Ukrainian woman named as Monaco bombing suspect
Interpol has announced the name of the suspect in the Monaco bombing, which reportedly targeted a Ukrainian businessman with ties to Russia.
In the Red Notice published on the website and calling for her arrest, 39-year-old Ukrainian Anastasiia Berezovska was identified as the suspect.
Monaco authorities could not identify any of the three people injured in the explosion at the entrance of an apartment building on Monday, but said they were a family and were specifically targeted.
Media reports stated that Ukrainian construction master Vadym Yermolaiev was among the injured.
He said he renounced his Ukrainian citizenship nearly a decade ago and is the target of Ukrainian sanctions in 2023 because of his ties to Russia.
A woman and a child were also injured.
On Friday, prosecutors said one of the victims remained in life-threatening condition.
The Interpol announcement states that the suspect likely had a tattoo of a snake on his right arm, from his shoulder to his elbow.
It says he was born in Ukraine, has dark hair, and speaks German.
Authorities in Monaco are seeking his arrest on charges of attempted murder, placing explosives in a public place for criminal purposes and criminal conspiracy.
Monaco deputy prosecutor Morgan Raymond said the bomb was detonated remotely using a remote control.
He said the bomb’s remains were analyzed in France.
He said the suspect was initially described as a large-bodied person who appeared to be male, wearing a dark long-sleeved top, light-colored shorts and a black hat.
Further review of CCTV footage from the previous days and a witness’s statement led the investigation to a woman posing as a man.
Monaco’s director of public safety, Eric Arella, held up copies of the notice requested by Interpol at a press conference with the prosecutor.
Two photographs included in Interpol’s wanted advert for Berezovska show a woman wearing a white T-shirt with dark stripes; One of them is on the street, holding in his left hand some kind of electronic device that pulls a cable.
The attack shocked the country on the Mediterranean coast, one of the world’s smallest sovereign states with a concentration of wealthy residents.
Prince II of Monaco Albert called it a “disgusting act” and said all public services had been mobilized to ensure security.
Ukraine is believed to have carried out attacks and targeted killings of Russian figures during the war, but these attacks were largely confined to Ukrainian or Russian territory.
In December 2024, the Ukrainian security service claimed responsibility for the murder of the head of the nuclear, biological and chemical military protection forces of the Russian army.
Western intelligence officials recently said Russia has stepped up its targeted killing campaign since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
