Whoever planned this knew a child would be there.
In the quiet principality of Monaco, a parcel left at an apartment entrance shattered an evening and drew the world's attention to the long reach of geopolitical grievance. A Ukrainian woman, allegedly in disguise, is believed to have targeted a sanctioned oligarch whose business ties to Russian-annexed Crimea had made him an enemy of Kyiv — injuring him, his partner, and their young son in the blast. The suspect vanished across European borders before authorities could close in, and an Interpol Red Notice now spans 196 nations, a reminder that the consequences of distant conflicts do not stay distant for long.
- A parcel bomb detonated at a Monaco apartment entrance on a Monday evening, catching a family mid-step and sending two adults to hospital in critical condition.
- The suspected attacker — a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman who disguised herself as a man — slipped away on foot, crossed into Italy, then Germany, and vanished before police could reach her rented flat.
- The intended target appears to be Vadym Yermolaiev, a sanctioned Ukrainian billionaire whose wine and real estate interests in Russian-occupied Crimea had drawn the ire of Kyiv.
- Investigators believe Berezovska spent days surveilling the building before striking, suggesting a coordinated operation with accomplices still unidentified.
- An Interpol Red Notice for attempted murder and criminal conspiracy now reaches all 196 member countries, while Monaco and French prosecutors race to map the broader network behind the attack.
Just before nine on a Monday evening in Monaco, a package detonated at the entrance of an apartment building. A 58-year-old man, his partner, and their 13-year-old son were caught in the blast as they entered. The couple were airlifted to Nice University Hospital in serious condition; the boy, hurt but stable, was treated at a nearby children's facility.
Authorities swiftly identified Anastasiia Berezovska, 39, as the prime suspect. She had disguised herself as a man — captured on security cameras wearing a dark bucket hat — before leaving on foot, picking up a rental car, and driving through Italy into Germany. Police in the state of Hesse found and searched her apartment in the Main-Taunus district, seizing a vehicle and gathering evidence, but she had already gone.
The apparent target was Vadym Yermolaiev, once ranked among Ukraine's forty wealthiest individuals with a fortune of $230 million. He had renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019 and settled in Monaco, but his business interests in Russian-annexed Crimea — particularly in wine and alcohol — led Kyiv to sanction him in 2023, making him a figure of suspicion in the eyes of the Ukrainian state.
Deputy Prosecutor Morgan Raymond confirmed that Berezovska is not believed to have acted alone. Evidence suggests she spent several days watching the building and learning its rhythms before the attack — a level of preparation that points to outside coordination. Interpol issued a Red Notice across all 196 member countries, describing her as a German speaker wanted for attempted murder, placing an explosive device on a public road, and criminal conspiracy. Released photographs show a woman with dark shoulder-length hair and a tattoo on her right arm believed to depict a snake.
By Wednesday, the man's condition had stabilised and he was no longer in immediate danger. His partner remained critical. Prince Albert II condemned the attack as a heinous crime. Prosecutors from Monaco and France worked in close cooperation and identified the suspect with unusual speed — but locating her, and unravelling who helped her, remained the unfinished work of an investigation still very much in motion.
Just before nine o'clock on a Monday evening in Monaco, a package arrived at the entrance of an apartment building. Within minutes, it detonated. Three people—a 58-year-old man, his partner, and their 13-year-old son—were entering the building at that moment. All three were caught in the blast. The man and woman were rushed to Nice University Hospital with serious injuries. The boy, hurt but stable, went to a children's hospital nearby.
Authorities quickly identified a suspect: Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman. According to Monaco's deputy prosecutor Morgan Raymond, she had disguised herself as a man while carrying out the attack. Security cameras captured her wearing a dark bucket hat as she left the scene on foot. She then obtained a rental car and drove across borders—through Italy, into Germany—before disappearing.
The primary target, investigators believe, was Vadym Yermolaiev, the man seriously injured in the blast. Yermolaiev is a real estate developer and businessman who once ranked among Ukraine's wealthiest people. Forbes listed him as the 39th richest Ukrainian in 2020, with a fortune valued at $230 million. He had renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019 and made Monaco his home. But his business interests in Russian-annexed Crimea, particularly in wine and alcohol, made him a liability to Kyiv. In 2023, the Ukrainian government imposed sanctions against him.
Investigators believe Berezovska did not act alone. Deputy Prosecutor Raymond said authorities were actively searching for accomplices. Evidence suggests she spent several days watching the apartment building before the attack, learning the routines of the residents, timing her move. This kind of preparation points to coordination with others.
Berezovska fled to Germany, where police in the state of Hesse found her rented apartment in the Main-Taunus district. They searched the flat and seized a vehicle she had used, collecting evidence to send back to Monaco. But by the time authorities arrived, she was gone. An international arrest warrant was issued. Interpol, the global police cooperation network, released a Red Notice—an alert distributed to all 196 member countries asking them to locate and arrest her. The notice describes her as a German speaker wanted for attempted murder, placing an explosive device on a public road, and criminal conspiracy.
Photographs released by Interpol show a woman with dark shoulder-length hair and a tattoo on her right arm that officers believe may depict a snake. The contrast between the disguise caught on camera—the bucket hat, the male appearance—and the photographs released to the public underscores how little authorities knew about her movements or intentions at first.
By Wednesday, the man's condition had improved; he was no longer in immediate danger of death. The woman's condition remained unstable. The child recovered from minor injuries. Prince Albert II of Monaco called the bombing a heinous crime. Prosecutors from Monaco and France worked together to identify the suspect in what they described as a remarkably short time. But finding her, and understanding who helped her, remained an open question. She was somewhere in Europe, moving, and the investigation was far from over.
Citações Notáveis
Investigators were looking for possible accomplices as they continued searching for the suspect— Monaco deputy prosecutor Morgan Raymond
The incident was described as a heinous crime— Prince Albert II of Monaco
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why would someone go to such lengths to disguise themselves for an attack that would be caught on camera anyway?
Because the initial disguise buys time. If witnesses or early footage shows a man, investigators chase one profile. By the time they realize it was a woman, she's already crossed borders. The disguise isn't about fooling everyone forever—it's about creating confusion in those critical first hours.
The fact that she spent days watching the building—what does that tell us?
It tells us this wasn't impulsive. Someone planned this. Someone knew when the family would be home, where they'd enter, how to time the package. That kind of knowledge doesn't come from a single reconnaissance visit. It comes from patience, from coordination with people on the ground.
Yermolaiev renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019 but was sanctioned by Kyiv in 2023. Why the gap?
Because his business dealings in Crimea didn't become a problem until Russia's full invasion. Before 2022, there was ambiguity about Crimea's status. After the invasion, doing business there became collaboration with an occupier. Kyiv had to act.
Do we know if this was state-sponsored?
Not yet. The investigation is still opening. What we know is that someone with resources, planning ability, and international mobility carried this out. Whether that's a state actor, a private network, or something in between—that's what authorities are trying to determine.
The 13-year-old was there. That's the detail that stays with you.
Yes. Whoever planned this knew a child would be in that building. They set the bomb anyway. That's not collateral damage in their calculation—it's either accepted or irrelevant to them.