Ukrainian Court Detains Two Men in Killing of Monaco Bombing Suspect
A Ukrainian court has ordered two men held without bail for allegedly killing Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman wanted in connection with a bomb attack on a Monaco apartment building on June 29 that injured three people, including businessman Vadym Yermolaiev. Berezovska's body was found with gunshot wounds to the head on July 3 near Kyiv. The two detained men are Vladyslav Reut, a serving officer in Ukraine's military intelligence agency, and Vitalii Zhykovych, a former law enforcement officer. Investigators traced the pair to Berezovska through cryptocurrency transfers they made to her. Reut initially confessed to the killing but later retracted his statement, claiming Zhykovych fired the shots. The motive remains unclear as investigators work to establish connections between the Monaco bombing attempt and the subsequent murder. Ukraine's prosecutor general called for international cooperation on the investigation.
Key facts
- Anastasiia Berezovska, 39, was wanted by Interpol as suspect in June 29 Monaco bomb attack
- Her body found July 3 with gunshot wounds near Kyiv; two men detained for her murder
- Suspects: Vladyslav Reut (military intelligence officer) and Vitalii Zhykovych (former law enforcement)
- Monaco bombing injured businessman Vadym Yermolaiev, his partner, and a 13-year-old child
- Cryptocurrency transfers linked suspects to Berezovska; motive for murder remains unclear
Limits of this briefing
The motive for both the Monaco bombing and Berezovska's subsequent murder remain officially unclear. Reut's retracted confession creates ambiguity about who fired the fatal shots, and investigations are still ongoing.
Sources
- Al Jazeera: Ukrainian court detains alleged killers of Monaco bomb attack suspect Centre
- U.S. News & World Report (Reuters): Ukrainian Court Remands in Custody Two Men Accused of Killing Monaco Bomb Attack Suspect Centre
- CNN: Monaco bombing attack suspect found shot dead in Ukraine, officials say Centre
- Kyiv Independent: Kyiv court denies bail to men charged in killing of Monaco bombing suspect Centre
- OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project): Two on Trial for Killing Ukrainian Woman Suspected of Planting a Bomb that Injured a Businessman in Monaco Centre