Monaco police are searching for a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman accused of carrying out a parcel bombing that seriously injured a wealthy real estate developer, his partner, and their teenage son. Authorities say the suspect disguised herself as a man, fled across borders, and is now the subject of an Interpol Red Notice
The explosion happened just before 21:00 local time on Monday, 29 June 2026, at the entrance of a residential building in Monaco, near the French border.
Investigators say a package was left in the building’s entrance hall moments before the blast. The device detonated as three residents were entering, causing serious injuries to the adults and minor injuries to the child.
Monaco’s deputy prosecutor, Morgan Raymond, told reporters the suspect is Anastasiia Berezovska, 39. He said she was “disguised as a man” during the operation. CCTV footage shows a figure in a dark bucket hat leaving a parcel at the building and walking away on foot.
Monaco has not officially named the victims, but local reports identify the target as Vadym Yermolaiev, 58, a Ukrainian-born real estate developer who lives in Monaco with his partner and 13-year-old son. All three were taken to hospitals in Nice. On Wednesday, officials said the man was no longer in life-threatening condition, but the woman’s condition had not yet stabilized. The child was treated in a non-critical condition.
Berezovska is described as a Ukrainian national who speaks German. Interpol has circulated her photos: dark, shoulder-length hair, wearing a striped black-and-white shirt. Officers note a tattoo on her right arm that “possibly” depicts a snake.
According to Monaco’s public prosecutor, Stephane Thibault, cooperation between Monaco and French police helped identify the suspect “in a particularly short time.”
Raymond said investigators believe Berezovska spent several days surveilling the residence before the attack. After leaving the parcel, she is believed to have picked up a hired car and driven first to Italy,
An Interpol Red Notice was issued for Berezovska. A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant itself, but an alert to Interpol’s 196 member countries to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition. She is wanted for attempted murder, placing an explosive device on a public road with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy.
German authorities have already acted. Police in the state of Hesse said special forces searched a rented apartment linked to a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman in the Main-Taunus district on Thursday. A vehicle she had used was also searched and seized.
“The woman being sought is currently on the run. An international arrest warrant has been issued,” Hesse police said. They added that evidence would be handed to Monegasque authorities and that German security services are in close contact with Monaco’s investigation team.
Yermolaiev is a Cypriot citizen who renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019. He has business interests in the wine and alcohol sector in Russian-annexed Crimea and has been under sanctions imposed by Kyiv since 2023. Forbes listed him as the 39th richest Ukrainian in 2020, with an estimated fortune of $230 million.
Because of his profile and sanctions status, investigators are examining whether the attack was linked to his business activities, political exposure, or personal disputes. Monaco’s prosecutor has not publicly stated a motive
Authorities say the device appeared to contain bolts and pellets, designed to cause maximum injury. The bombing happened at a residential entrance, raising concerns about civilian risk and security in Monaco’s densely built northern districts near Beausoleil, France.
The speed of identification was aided by CCTV and cross-border police cooperation. France’s proximity to Monaco meant forensic and investigative resources could be pooled quickly. Germany’s role became critical once tracking suggested the suspect crossed into its territory
Monaco’s priority is to apprehend Berezovska and determine whether she acted alone. The Red Notice means law enforcement across Europe and beyond are authorized to detain her if she is located.
Prosecutors will also need to trace how the explosive was obtained, how the parcel was assembled, and who, if anyone, assisted with logistics, transport, or surveillance. The fact that the suspect allegedly disguised herself as a man adds another layer to the investigation into planning and concealment.
For Monaco, a principality known for its tight security and high-profile residents, the case is a test of its ability to respond to targeted violence and coordinate with neighboring states
Beyond the criminal case, the attack left a family hospitalized and a community shaken. A child was injured, and two adults remain under medical care in Nice. The incident has also drawn attention to the risks faced by sanctioned or high-net-worth individuals living abroad.
As the manhunt continues, Monaco and its partners are treating the bombing as both an attempted murder investigation and a broader security matter with international dimensions
