Ukrainian authorities have released surveillance footage showing the moment an explosive device was planted outside a luxury apartment building in Monaco, in what they describe as an assassination attempt on Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev. The attack, which occurred on 29/6, injured Yermolaiev, his wife, and their 13-year-old son.
The video, made public by Ukraine's Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko on 17/7, depicts an individual leaving a bag at the entrance of the building on Reverend Pere Louis Frolla street. Seconds later, a man, a woman, and a teenager approached the location. The individual appeared to make a phone call before a large explosion erupted.
Kravchenko emphasized the significance of the recovered footage, stating, "We have recovered one of the key pieces of evidence that the suspects intentionally tried to destroy." He explained that the surveillance cameras were allegedly installed by the suspects themselves to confirm the attack was carried out as agreed.
The investigation has progressed with the arrest of two men, intelligence officer Vladyslav Reut and former law enforcement officer Vitalii Zhykovych. They are suspected of orchestrating the Monaco attack. Authorities also believe they hired Anastasiia Berezovska, 39, who was reportedly shot dead near Kiev last week, days after the bombing.
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Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev. Photo: CNN |
Vadym Yermolaiev, a 58-year-old businessman with Cypriot nationality, became a prominent oligarch in Ukraine during the 1990s. He built a vast business portfolio, accumulating a fortune exceeding 300 million USD by the mid-2010s and joining Ukraine's 100 wealthiest individuals. Yermolaiev renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019 to become a Cypriot citizen. Despite this, he frequently resided in Monaco, a popular home for many millionaires and celebrities.
The bombing sent shockwaves throughout Monaco, a famously safe and affluent nation. Prince Albert II described the incident as a "heinous crime".
Thanh Tam (According to AFP, Ynet Global, CNN)
