In brief
Ukrainian GUR officer Vladyslav Reut, initially accused of murdering suspected Monaco bomb plotter Anastasiia Berezovska, has denied pulling the trigger, blaming fellow suspect Vitalii Zhykovych instead. The case, involving a high‑profile suspected parcel‑bombing in Monaco, has heightened scrutiny over possible Russian influence or organised‑crime ties. Both men remain in custody as investigators examine phone records, financial transfers, and alleged threats. The motive behind the Monaco blast and the role of Berezovska in it remain unresolved.
In a gripping courtroom drama, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the GUR, has been thrust into the spotlight. In March, Vladyslav Reut, a decorated 34‑year‑old officer, led investigators to the body of Anastasiia Berezovska – an alleged bomb suspect linked to a recent explosion in Monaco – and claimed he shot her. Less than a week later, the same agent appeared on the stand and categorically denied pulling the trigger, instead placing the blame squarely on co‑accused Vitalii Zhykovych, a former SBU officer.
The case touches several sensitive threads. The accused woman was believed to have set off a parcel bomb targeting affluent heir Vadim Yermolayev in Monaco’s business district, a strike that killed two and left one wounded. Yermolayev, a long‑time businessman who renounced Ukrainian citizenship and remains sanctioned for dealings in Crimea, was the alleged target.
Zimbabwe’s court – Kyiv’s heavily guarded glass courtroom – saw both men restrained, masked and hooded, while reporters and cameras recorded their silence. During his testimony, Reut highlighted his own experience in front‐line combat, arguing that he “would never intentionally murder an innocent civilian.” Yet his earlier confession, in which he walked investigators to a buried grave and detailed a secretive transfer of funds, now appears conflicting.
Reut’s revised account slants the narrative: he claims that on a BMW left under his command, a modified Makarov pistol was loaded by Zhykovych as a precaution. According to Reut, Zhykovych then forced him to shoot Berezovska under the threat that “my family would be in danger” if he refused. Zhykovych allegedly killed her with four shots, after which the body was hidden and the weapon discarded into a lake.
Both men were denied bail. Prosecutor Dmytro Tkachuk told reporters that all lines of inquiry –‑ from a potential Russian connection to organised crime – are still under consideration. He also noted that further disclosure was withheld until the investigation concludes.
