Ukrainian Businessman Accuses GUR of Monaco Assassination Attempt

Ukrainian businessman Vadym Iermolaiev accused the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (GUR) of organizing an assassination attempt against him and his family in Monaco. On June 29, a parcel bomb detonated at the Sun Palace apartment building as Iermolaiev left with his partner, Anna Nasobina, and their 13-year-old son. Nasobina suffered the amputation of both legs, while Iermolaiev and his son sustained severe injuries.

French investigators identified the suspect as Ukrainian national Anastasiia Berezovska, who was shot dead near Kyiv on July 6. Ukrainian authorities subsequently arrested GUR officer Vladyslav Reut and former law enforcement officer Vitalii Zhykovych for the murder of Berezovska and for allegedly masterminding the attack. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko released surveillance footage of the blast, which had been previously deleted but restored by the Security Service of Ukraine.

While Ukrainian prosecutors describe the event as the act of a rogue officer, Iermolaiev alleges the conspiracy extended to individuals close to the GUR's leadership. The attack has been linked to a fraudulent call center network based in Dnipro that reportedly defrauded investors of over 100 million euros. Separately, Ukraine had previously sanctioned Iermolaiev for trading alcohol in Russian-occupied Crimea.