An explosion at the entrance of an apartment building in Monaco has reportedly injured a Ukrainian tycoon connected to Russia and two other individuals, according to the chief prosecutor in the affluent Mediterranean nation on Tuesday. The prosecutor, Stéphane Thibault, mentioned that a search was ongoing for an individual who fled on foot after the explosion late on Monday, stating that the motive behind the incident remains unclear.
Media outlets have identified the injured individual as Ukrainian construction magnate Vadym Yermolaiev, who relinquished his Ukrainian citizenship nearly ten years ago. Yermolaiev was sanctioned by Ukraine in 2023 due to his ties with Russia. Additionally, a woman and a child were also harmed in the explosion.
Monaco’s Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, indicated that the family may have been deliberately targeted, as surveillance footage revealed a person lingering in the vicinity prior to the attack. The reason behind the targeting and the perpetrator’s identity remain unknown.
Recent reports suggest that Russia has a history of targeting its adversaries abroad, with Western intelligence agencies noting an increase in targeted killings following President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While Ukraine is also believed to have carried out attacks and targeted killings during the conflict, these incidents have mostly occurred within Ukrainian or Russian territories.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed that its embassy in France, responsible for Monaco, was coordinating with local authorities. Ukrainian diplomats were present at the scene to offer assistance.
The attacker left a package in front of the building shortly before the victims, who reside on the ground floor, arrived. The parcel detonated upon their arrival, as described by Thibault during a press briefing. The residence is situated near the French border.
Surveillance footage released by French media depicts the suspect wearing a black jacket, light-colored trousers, white shoes, and a black bucket hat concealing part of their face.
The affected family members are regular Monaco residents, and authorities are investigating whether they had received any threats in the past, as stated by Mirmand.
The explosion occurred around 9 p.m. local time on Monday. While Thibault did not disclose the identities of the injured parties, he mentioned that a woman sustained life-threatening injuries and was hospitalized. The woman’s partner and their 13-year-old child suffered less severe injuries but remained in the hospital on Tuesday, according to reports.
