Ukrainian investigators say Monaco explosion handlers killed operative suspected in attack on sanctioned businessman

What happened

Ukrainska Pravda English reports that Ukrainian investigators identify Vitalii Zhykovych, a former Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) officer, and Vladyslav Reut, a serving Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) officer, as the organisers and suspected killers of Anastasiia Berezovska, the woman allegedly behind the 29 June explosion in Monaco targeting Vadym Yermolaiev and his family. Both suspects have started cooperating and provide aligning testimonies to authorities.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. According to the suspects’ statements reported to investigators, Berezovska lived in Germany with her son as a refugee before carrying out the attack, motivated partly by financial gain to buy property in Ukraine. Her travel and operational costs were covered by the organisers. Prior to the Monaco explosion, Berezovska reportedly took part in other operations, including one linked to pro-Russian blogger Anatolii Sharii.

One critical piece of testimony involves the assembly of the explosive device’s electronic initiation unit. Reut, the DIU officer, admitted to constructing the triggering mechanism disguised as a toy car, which was shipped to Berezovska to assemble the full device. However, Zhykovych claims Berezovska lacked the technical expertise to assemble such a device herself, suggesting a possible knowledge gap or need for assistance.

Known from the source

• The explosion in Monaco occurred on 29 June and targeted Vadym Yermolaiev, a Ukrainian-born businessman under sanctions, and his family.
• Three people were injured in the explosion, two critically.
• Anastasiia Berezovska was identified as the suspect who planted the explosive device.
• Interpol issued a Red Notice for Berezovska on 3 July.
• Berezovska was found dead near Kyiv on 7 July.

What remains unclear

Investigators are examining theories including that the original plan was not to assassinate Yermolaiev but to kidnap him, with the mission parameters allegedly altered later. The killing of Berezovska shortly after the attack is also under scrutiny, with one theory holding that the handlers eliminated her to prevent her from revealing other operatives or details about the operation once identified by French law enforcement.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of Reut and Zhykovych's testimonies and their full involvement as masterminds of the operation. Confirmation of the motive for Berezovska's killing and whether it was ordered to silence her. Verification of the suspected link between the operation and the Security Service of Ukraine as suggested by some media reports.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Ukrainska Pravda English. Open the source.