Ukrainian tycoon targeted in Monaco explosion

It was reported that a Ukrainian businessman with ties to Russia and two other people were injured in the explosion that occurred at the entrance of an apartment building in Monaco.

Prosecutor Stéphane Thibault stated that searches are continuing for a suspect who fled on foot after the explosion late on Monday, adding that the reason for this was unclear.

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.

“It appears that the family was specifically targeted,” Monaco State Minister Christophe Mirmand said.

Mirmand said security camera footage showed the suspect “walking around the area several times while waiting for the victims.”

It is not yet known why and by whom the family was targeted.

Russia has a long history of targeting its enemies abroad, and Western intelligence officials recently said its targeted killing campaign has increased since President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Ukraine is also believed to have carried out attacks and targeted killings of Russian figures during the war, but these attacks were largely limited to Ukrainian or Russian territory.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said its embassy in France, which is also responsible for Monaco, was in contact with local authorities. It was stated that Ukrainian diplomats provided assistance at the scene.

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.

Thibault told reporters that Monaco police had launched an attempted murder investigation, but they did not define it as a terrorism investigation.

Mirmand said the family members were “regular” residents of Monaco and authorities did not yet know whether they had been threatened in the past.

Silvano Ippolito, who lives across the street from the building where the explosion occurred, said he heard the explosion and saw a small child on the ground, looked after by other people. He then called his wife, who was the doctor who gave first aid to the seriously injured woman.

“He intervened very quickly before emergency services arrived, applying a tourniquet and performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation because she was losing consciousness,” Ippolito said.

A bloodied and dazed man emerged from the building. As he tried to go down the stairs, the ladder collapsed and fell on Ippolito’s wife and a fireman.

Ippolito said the woman’s injuries were “a true disaster.”

“I tell you, it had no legs.”

The woman’s life was in danger.

He added that his wife and 13-year-old child suffered less serious injuries but were still hospitalized on Tuesday.

According to security camera footage, the suspect fled up the stairs into a small alley leading to the neighboring French town of Beausoleil.

In a photo taken by security cameras and published by French media, the suspect was seen on the street wearing a black jacket, light-colored trousers, white shoes and a black hat that partially concealed his face.

Mirmand said the three men “apparently returned home peacefully.”

“They were caught in the explosion as they crossed the threshold of their apartment building.”