A suspected bomber was captured on camera calmly leaving the scene moments before a massive explosion rocked a high-end apartment complex in an apparent assassination attempt on a wealthy Ukrainian oligarch.
According to investigators, a backpack filled with explosives was planted in the entrance of the Sun Palace apartment building just before Vadim Ermolaev, also known as Vadym Yermolaiev, along with his partner Anna Nasobina and their 13-year-old son Ariel arrived.
Recently released footage from the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office shows an individual walking away while on a phone call just before the blast occurred in Monaco on June 29. Authorities believe the person in the video is Ukrainian national Anastasiia Berezovska, who was previously identified by Interpol as the main suspect in the attempted assassination, described as armed and dangerous.
Berezovska, aged 39, was later found dead near Kyiv on July 6, having been shot. She was wanted for charges related to attempted murder, placing an explosive device with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy.
As a result of the explosion, Nasobina, 46, reportedly lost both legs, while Ermolaev suffered severe burns and shrapnel wounds, and their son was also injured.
Monaco deputy prosecutor Morgan Raymond disclosed that Berezovska allegedly disguised herself as a man during the attack.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko mentioned that the incriminating footage was recovered after the perpetrators attempted to delete it, thanks to the efforts of specialists from the Security Service of Ukraine.
In an ongoing court case, Ukrainian military intelligence officer Vladyslav Reut, along with co-defendant Vitalii Zhykovych, who was previously associated with Ukraine’s SBU security service, are facing charges related to Berezovska’s murder, which they deny.
Ermolaev has accused officers from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, HUR, of being involved in orchestrating the bombing, though he did not present any evidence to support his claim.
A spokesperson for HUR refuted the accusation, labeling it as “subjective political statements” that could hinder the investigation.
Investigators are exploring possible links between the bombing and allegations surrounding fraudulent call centers in Ukraine that targeted victims across Europe, but as of now, no direct connection has been established.
Ermolaev, a prominent property developer ranked as Ukraine’s 39th wealthiest individual by Forbes in 2020, remains in intensive care. He described the injuries suffered by Nasobina and their son as severe and emphasized that the attack was a deliberate attempt to harm his family.
Stay updated with the news you care about by selecting Daily Mirror as your ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News.