Anastasiia Berezovska, 39, wanted in connection with the bomb attack targeting businessman Vadim Ermolaev in Monaco, was found dead near Kyiv. Her body was discovered on the evening of July 6, just days after she was placed on Interpol's wanted list.
A body found buried, a death by gunshot
The body was discovered around 23 p.m. near Kyiv. Initial findings indicate the woman was shot and found buried. Ukrainian investigators are now working on two intersecting cases: the attempted assassination of Vadim Ermolaev in Monaco and the death of the prime suspect. Anastasiia Berezovska had been outside Ukraine since March 22, 2025. She is believed to have returned to the country on July 1, 2026, two days after the explosion in Monaco.
Two suspects have already been arrested.
Two people have been arrested in connection with the investigation launched after the body was discovered. One of the suspects is reportedly an active-duty officer in Ukrainian military intelligence, the other a former member of law enforcement. At this stage, no official motive has been publicly presented. This discovery changes the course of the case. The woman being sought is no longer just the suspect in the Monaco attack; she has also become the victim of a suspected homicide in Ukraine.
The booby-trapped package exploded in Monaco on June 29th
The incident began on June 29, around 21 p.m., in Monaco. An explosive device was placed at the entrance of a residential building. The explosion injured three people, including Vadim Ermolaev, a Ukrainian-born businessman subject to Ukrainian sanctions. Two victims were seriously injured. Monegasque authorities opened an investigation for attempted murder, planting an explosive device in a public place, and criminal conspiracy. The possibility of terrorism was ruled out. The attack is being treated as a targeted operation.
A suspect disguised as a man
Initially, investigators believed they were looking for a man. CCTV footage showed a heavyset person wearing a dark, long-sleeved top, light-colored shorts, and a black bucket hat. A broader analysis of the cameras and a witness statement then directed the investigation toward a woman disguised as a man. Anastasiia Berezovska was subsequently identified. Interpol issued a Red Notice in her name. She was described as a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman with dark hair, who spoke German, and had a tattoo on her right arm, possibly a snake, extending from her shoulder to her elbow.
An escape traced between Monaco, France, Italy and Germany
After the explosion, the suspected woman reportedly left Monaco on foot for France. Investigators then traced a route through Italy and several other European countries to Germany, where she resided. A rental car with German license plates was identified. Searches were conducted near Frankfurt at a residence linked to the suspect, as well as on a car she used. Monegasque investigators believe the method used was not impromptu. The explosive device appears to have been detonated remotely. The sophistication of the device and the organized escape suggest the presence of accomplices or those who ordered the attack.
Vadim Ermolaev, a businessman under sanctions
Vadim Ermolaev is from Dnipro. He is described as the founder of the Alef Corporation and one of the city's major real estate developers. He was long considered one of the wealthiest men in Ukraine. In 2019, he renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in favor of a Cypriot passport. In 2023, he was targeted by Ukrainian sanctions. His name had already surfaced in journalistic investigations into Ukrainian businessmen who had settled on the French Riviera during the war. The Monaco attack has placed his background, his businesses, and his networks at the heart of what is now an international case.
