Ukrainian Woman Disguised As Man is Prime Suspect in Monaco Oligarch Bombing

A 39-year-old Ukrainian woman who disguised herself as a man is the primary suspect in an unprecedented bomb assassination attempt against a Ukrainian oligarch in Monaco.

Authorities have issued an Interpol Red Notice for Anastasiia Berezovska following the remote-detonated explosion that wounded tycoon Vadym Yermolaiev and two others on Monday.

The attack shattered the heavily surveilled calm of the Mediterranean principality, marking the first recorded bomb assassination attempt on its streets.

Surveillance and Disguise

Security footage captured the suspect scouting the high-end apartment building multiple times prior to the blast.

She utilized a male disguise during the reconnaissance, wearing a black jumper, light-colored trousers, and a black bucket hat.

Investigators linked the disguised figure to Berezovska after observing a woman taking the identical route and exhibiting the same behavior on a separate occasion.

On the night of the operation, the assailant planted the explosive device in the entranceway of the luxury residence.

She then waited for Yermolaiev, an unidentified woman, and a child to return from a nearby seaside restaurant before triggering the blast via remote control.

Berezovska, whose last known residence was in Germany, is identifiable by a distinct tattoo, believed to be a snake, running down her right arm from shoulder to elbow.

Sophisticated Escape and Investigation

Immediately following the detonation, the suspect crossed the border into France. She subsequently drove into Italy utilizing a German-registered rental car procured specifically for the operation.

The technical complexity of the bomb suggests a coordinated plot involving multiple actors. Police initially detained two men in Monaco, though both were released due to insufficient evidence.

Monaco prosecutor Stéphane Thibault has classified the incident as an attempted assassination, though the underlying motive remains undetermined.

Unprecedented Security Breach

The blast left one victim with life-threatening injuries, another seriously wounded, and a third with minor trauma. Two bystanders on the street suffered injuries from flying glass.

Yermolaiev’s wife confirmed to Ukrainian media that she was not present during the attack, leaving the identity of the injured woman and child unconfirmed.

The violent operation represents a severe shock to Monaco, a city-state roughly half the size of Central Park.

The principality maintains a vast security apparatus comprising 556 police officers and 1,387 surveillance cameras, recording zero homicides or attempted murders in the previous year.