The plot behind a dramatic Monaco bomb attack has taken a wild turn. A suspect locked up in Kyiv now claims the high-society hit was actually an authorized mission planned by Ukrainian military intelligence.
Vitalii Zhykovych, speaking through his lawyer to the BBC from a prison cell, has offered his first detailed account of the attempt on tycoon Vadym Yermolayev’s life. The June bombing shook the quiet luxury of the principality. Yermolayev, his partner, and his 13-year-old son survived the blast, though his partner suffered catastrophic injuries. The businessman later said their survival was a miracle.
An Agent and a Shallow Grave
Zhykovych describes himself as a former security services freelancer. He admits that Anastasia Berezovska, the woman caught on camera planting the bomb, was his “agent.” But he insists he never wanted her dead, nor did he order the strike.
A week after the Monaco explosion, Berezovska’s body was found in a forest west of Kyiv. She had been shot in the head. Ukrainian authorities arrested Zhykovych alongside Vladyslav Reut, an active officer in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, known as HUR, charging both with her murder. The two men have since traded blame for her execution.
Accusations of State Approval
During his silence, Zhykovych kept his head down. Now, he is pointing fingers directly at Reut, whom he refers to as “The Boss.” Zhykovych claims Reut was the mastermind who proposed targeting Yermolayev. He alleges Reut assured him that top commanders within the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence had personally greenlit the hit.
According to Zhykovych, Reut bypassed him to coordinate directly with Berezovska, providing her with the explosives. He claims he only agreed to let her go for reconnaissance, believing she lacked the training for an active bombing campaign.
What Was the Motive?
The motive behind the attack remains muddy. Zhykovych claims Reut told him Yermolayev was targeted for allegedly paying taxes to Russia from businesses operating in occupied Crimea, essentially helping fund the war effort. Yermolayev has fiercely denied having any active business ties to Russia.
Other theories have circulated. Some point to a potential clash over highly profitable scam call-center networks in Ukraine. Earlier this year, Yermolayev’s son, Artur, was convicted in Estonia for a multi-million-dollar scam operation. However, the senior Yermolayev has insisted he has no connection to those schemes.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, HUR, has stated it is fully cooperating with the investigation. The SBU security service has downplayed Zhykovych’s background, describing him only as a former law enforcement officer. As the court case proceeds in Kyiv, the truth behind who ordered the Monaco hit remains locked behind prison walls.