Monaco bombing suspect found dead in Ukraine with gunshot wounds

The body of Anastasiia Berezovska, the prime suspect in last week's bombing in Monaco that targeted Ukrainian oligarch Vadim Ermolaev and his family, was discovered near Kyiv on the night of July 6 with multiple gunshot wounds to the head Source: lavozar, CNN. Ukrainian authorities have arrested two men—an active officer of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) and a former law enforcement officer—who confessed to killing her Source: CNN, infobae.

The victim

Berezovska, 39, a Ukrainian citizen and war refugee in Germany, had been on the run since the June 29 attack. She allegedly placed a bomb in a shopping bag at the entrance of a luxury building in Monaco, disguising herself as a man Source: lavanguardia. The explosion severely injured Ermolaev, his partner Anna Nasobina (who lost both legs), and her 13-year-old son Source: clarin.

The investigation

Ukrainska Pravda reported that Berezovska's body bore four bullet wounds to the back of the head Source: lavozar, clarin. According to the SBU, she returned to Ukraine on July 1 and contacted relatives and the two suspects Source: infobae. The suspects had made repeated bank and cryptocurrency transfers to Berezovska Source: CNN. During a search of the former officer's home, authorities discovered a basement resembling a torture chamber Source: cnn, elespanol.

Possible motive

The attack may be linked to Ermolaev's business activities in Crimea or money laundering via the Estonian Versobank, of which he was a co-owner Source: elmundoes. Ermolaev, sanctioned by Ukraine in 2023, is a Cypriot citizen and former Forbes-listed billionaire Source: euronewses.