The investigation into the parcel bombing in Monaco that injured a Ukrainian tycoon and his family has taken a tragic turn. The woman suspected in the attack, Anastasiia Berezovska, 39, has been found dead with gunshot wounds to the head near Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.
According to authorities, Berezovska arrived in Ukraine two days after the July 1 bombing and was in communication with her family and two men, including an ex-law enforcement officer and a current officer in the Ministry of Defence's main intelligence directorate. The two men she had contact with were being investigated as possible accomplices in the Monaco bombing attack, with authorities working off information that they "repeatedly transferred funds" to Berezovska's cryptocurrency and bank accounts.
After being arrested, the intelligence officer reportedly confessed to the bombing suspect's murder and had carried out the crime with "another suspect," authorities noted. A search of the ex-cop's home yielded a basement room that resembled a torture chamber, which was blood-stained and contained hammers and other equipment.
The investigation is ongoing with the aid of Ukraine's head of intelligence, with authorities working to determine the circumstances surrounding Berezovska's murder. The case has raised concerns about the involvement of individuals with law enforcement connections in the bombing attack.
Morgan Raymond, Monaco's deputy prosecutor, said Berezovska spent a few days scoping out the residence and was "disguised as a man" during the June 29 bombing attack. Three people were injured after a package exploded as they entered the apartment building.
The victim, Vadym Yermolaiev, a real estate developer, was named the 39th richest Ukrainian by Forbes in 2020 with a reported fortune of $230 million. After the attack, Berezovska was believed to have rented a car and fled to Italy and later Germany.
Interpol released a red notice this past Friday, stating the woman was a fugitive wanted for attempted murder, placing an explosive device on a public road with criminal intent and criminal conspiracy. The case continues to be a complex and high-profile investigation.
