In brief
Ukraine's SBU revealed that Anastasiia Berezovska, the 39‑year‑old woman suspected of planting a parcel bomb in Monaco, was found dead in the Kyiv region. The woman fled Monaco after the 29 June attack that injured a wealthy Ukrainian businessman and his family, and was believed to have entered Ukraine on 1 July. Interpol had placed a red notice on her after authorities in Monaco and Ukraine shared evidence. The SBU identified two men, including a current officer of Ukrainian military intelligence, as suspects in Berezovska's murder; both have been charged with intentional murder. A basement room found during the search of one suspect's home has been described as a "torture chamber", though prosecutors say it has no direct link to the bomb case.
Ukraine’s security service (SBU) announced that the 39‑year‑old woman accused of planting a parcel bomb in the coastal principality of Monaco was found dead in a forested area of the Kyiv region. The discovery comes after a multi‑country manhunt for Anastasiia Berezovska that followed the 29 June explosion that injured a sanctioned Ukrainian businessman, his partner and their 13‑year‑old son.
The SBU said Berezovska had entered Ukraine on 1 July, a day after the attack, and that she was contacted by two men – a former law‑enforcement officer and a current officer of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence – who financed her travel through crypto and banking channels. After a brief encounter, she was apparently shot in the head and buried, the authorities said.
Interpol had issued a red notice to help track the fugitive, describing her as a partner in an attempted murder and explosive device deployment. The notice was issued after Monaco’s deputy prosecutor reported that Berezovska had spent several days casing the residence of the target before disguising herself as a man to slip into the building’s entrance and trigger the bomb.
The two suspects have now been formally charged with "intentional murder committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons". One of the men’s home was searched in the Kyiv region, revealing a basement room described by the SBU as a "torture chamber" complete with metal axes, a pickaxe and a large bag. Prosecutors note that there is no evidence the room was linked to the bomb case, citing the view that the room simply reflects the suspect’s profile.
The investigation underscores the skills required for multinational cooperation in counter‑terrorism operations. Ukraine’s prosecutor general has confirmed that all available data on the incident has been shared with Monaco officials, and authorities in both countries are seeking additional suspects involved in the attack.
For context, the target, Vadym Yermolaiev, a real estate developer listed by Forbes as Ukraine’s 39th richest person in 2020 and a former Ukrainian national, was injured in the blast. The bomb detonated as ten people entered the upper‑floor apartment late that night, causing serious injuries for most.
Source: BBC News – Monitored by OnPoint Investigative Team
