A Ukrainian woman suspected of planting a parcel bomb targeting a wealthy Ukrainian-born businessman in Monaco last week was found shot to death near Kiev, Ukrainian news agency Ukrynska Pravda reported, with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office later confirming the discovery of the body.The Ukrainian National Police said in a statement that officers “arrested two people on suspicion of killing a woman wanted by Interpol,” and identified the victim as “Ukrainian citizen Anastasia Berezovska.” One of the suspects is an officer in the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, while the other is a former law enforcement officer.Citing law enforcement sources, media reported that the woman was found with gunshot wounds near the Ukrainian capital at around 11pm local time on Monday.
The woman has been identified as 39-year-old Anastasia Berezovska, who was identified as the prime suspect in an Interpol Red Notice issued at Monaco’s request.According to the warrant, Berezovska, a German-speaking Ukrainian citizen, is wanted for “attempted murder, placing an explosive device in a public place with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy.” An INTERPOL Red Notice is a request to law enforcement agencies around the world to locate and temporarily detain a suspect pending extradition.
French prosecutors allege that Berezowska, who was living in Germany, “disguised herself as a man” before placing an explosive device in the entrance hall of the family’s apartment building in Monaco.Monaco’s deputy public prosecutor said the attacker fled the principality on foot to neighboring France before traveling by car through several European countries, including Italy, and eventually arriving in Germany.
The attack targeted Vadim Ermolaev, 58, a Ukrainian-born real estate developer from Dnipro who lives in Monaco. Ermolaev, his partner, and their 13-year-old son were injured in the explosion.According to Reuters, Yermolaev renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019 and is now a Cypriot citizen. He has been subject to Ukrainian sanctions since 2023 because of his business interests in the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia. Forbes Ukraine magazine ranked him as the 39th richest person in the country for the year 2020, and his wealth was estimated at $230 million.
