The tranquil streets of Monaco were shattered by an explosion on a Monday evening, leaving a wealthy family seriously injured. The incident has sparked an international manhunt for a Ukrainian woman, Anastasiia Berezovska, who is believed to have orchestrated the attack while disguised as a man.
The parcel bombing near Monaco’s border with France has drawn significant attention from law enforcement agencies worldwide. The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Anastasiia Berezovska, is wanted for attempted murder placing an explosive device, and criminal conspiracy. The explosion occurred just as Vadym Yermolaiev, a sanctioned Ukrainian multi-millionaire, his partner, and their 13-year-old son were entering their apartment building.
The Suspect and the Attack
Berezovska, who speaks German, is believed to have spent several days casing out the residence before the attack. She left a package in the entrance hall of the apartment building just before 21:00 local time (20:00 BST) on Monday. The explosion followed shortly after, seriously injuring the three residents. The suspect was captured on CCTV cameras wearing a dark bucket hat and left the scene on foot. She is then believed to have picked up a hire car and driven to Italy and on to Germany.
Photos released by Interpol show Berezovska with dark shoulder-length hair and a distinctive tattoo on her right arm, possibly depicting a snake. An Interpol Red Notice has been issued for her arrest, alerting all 196 member countries to locate and apprehend her. The Red Notice is a critical tool for international cooperation, as Interpol itself is not a police force but facilitates collaboration among global law enforcement agencies.
International Cooperation and Investigations
Monaco’s public prosecutor, Stephane Thibault, expressed gratitude for the swift cooperation between Monaco and French police, which led to the quick identification of the suspect. Meanwhile, police in the state of Hesse, Germany, confirmed that special forces had searched a rented apartment and a vehicle used by Berezovska in the Main-Taunus district. Evidence secured during these searches has been handed over to the Monegasque authorities.
The Hessian security authorities are actively supporting the Monegasque authorities in their investigations and maintaining close contact with them. An international arrest warrant has been issued for Berezovska, who is currently on the run. Prince Albert II of Monaco has described the incident as a heinous crime underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The Victims and Their Background
The victims of the attack were treated in hospitals in Nice. The adults were seriously wounded and taken to the Nice University Hospital (CHU), while the child, who suffered minor injuries, was admitted to the Lenval children’s hospital in a non-critical condition. By Wednesday, the man was no longer in a life-or-death situation, but the woman’s condition had not yet stabilized.
Vadym Yermolaiev, widely believed to be the presumed target of the blast, is a Cypriot citizen who renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019. He is a wealthy real estate developer with significant interests in the wine and alcohol business in Russian-annexed Crimea. Since 2026, he has been subject to sanctions imposed by the Ukrainian government. Yermolaiev was named the 39th richest Ukrainian by Forbes magazine in 2026, with a fortune of $230m (£173.8m).
The international manhunt for Anastasiia Berezovska continues as authorities work tirelessly to bring her to justice. The cooperation between Monaco, France, Germany, and Interpol highlights the global effort to combat such heinous crimes and ensure the safety of all citizens.
