Monaco Bombing Victim Blames Ukrainian Spy Agency for Attack 2026

The Ukrainian businessman who survived an assassination attempt in Monaco has accused Ukraine’s military intelligence agency of organizing the attack. In his first public statement since the bombing that shook the wealthy principality, Vadym Iermolaiev alleged that serving and former officers of the GUR military intelligence agency were behind the attempted killing, which left him injured but his partner critically wounded.

“Based on the investigative evidence available to us, we have no doubt that serving officers of the main intelligence directorate of the ministry of defence of Ukraine, commonly known as the GUR, were directly involved in this attempted assassination,” Iermolaiev said in a statement published by his lawyers. The bombing occurred as Iermolaiev emerged from a building with his partner and their 13-year-old son, detonating an explosive device planted by Ukrainian national Anastasiia Berezovska.

Key Details of the Monaco Bombing

French investigators have identified the suspected bomber as Anastasiia Berezovska, accusing her of planting the explosive device in a public place with criminal intent. Days after the attack, Berezovska was found dead near Kyiv. Ukrainian authorities have arrested two suspects over her killing: Vladyslav Reut, an officer with the GUR, and Oleksandr Zhykovych, a former law enforcement officer.

Appearing in a Kyiv court last Thursday, Reut claimed Zhykovych was responsible for Berezovska’s murder. According to prosecutors, the pair forced her at gunpoint into a car before taking her to a forest near the village of Yuriv, about 40 miles (60km) west of the capital, where she was killed. Ukrainian prosecutors have sought to portray the case as the actions of a rogue intelligence officer, alleging that Reut concealed his contacts with Berezovska and acted without the knowledge or authorization of the agency’s leadership.

Iermolaiev’s Accusation Against the GUR

Iermolaiev rejected that account, saying in his statement: “According to the evidence currently available, the conspiracy extended beyond the direct perpetrators and organizers to include serving GUR officers connected to the planning and execution of this heinous act.” This direct accusation against the GUR marks a significant escalation in the narrative surrounding the Monaco bombing.

The case has drawn international attention, highlighting the reach of Ukrainian intelligence operations abroad. The Monaco bombing has raised questions about the involvement of state actors in targeted attacks, even as Ukrainian officials deny any official sanction for the operation.

Comparison of Key Figures in the Case

Key Takeaways from the Monaco Bombing Investigation

• Iermolaiev directly accuses the GUR of orchestrating the assassination attempt in Monaco.
• The suspected bomber, Anastasiia Berezovska, was found dead near Kyiv after the attack.
• Ukrainian authorities arrested two suspects, including a serving GUR officer, for her murder.
• Ukrainian prosecutors claim the GUR officer acted without agency authorization.
• The case underscores the complex web of intelligence operations and personal vendettas in the region.

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