Monaco bomb suspect found dead in Ukraine; two arrested for murder
Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian national suspected of orchestrating a "package bomb" attack in Monaco on June 29, 2026, has been found dead in Ukraine. Ukrainian police confirmed her body was discovered with "gunshot wounds to the head." Two individuals, identified as a former Ukrainian security forces member and an active agent from Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), have been arrested in connection with her murder. Ukrainian authorities stated that Berezovska had recently returned to Ukraine and contacted these two men. Investigations revealed financial transfers from Berezovska to the arrested men, leading authorities to also investigate their potential involvement in the Monaco incident. The Monaco attack targeted Ukrainian oligarch Vadim Irmolaiev at a hotel, injuring him and two others with an explosive device left in a bag in the lobby. Monaco authorities had identified Berezovska as the primary suspect shortly after the incident, noting she had been seen in Germany. Irmolaiev had been under Ukrainian national security sanctions since December 2023, reportedly due to his continued alcohol trade activities in Russian-occupied Crimea. Prince Albert II of Monaco condemned the attack as a "heinous crime" and a "blow to the entire Monegasque community," reaffirming the principality's commitment to security.
The discovery of Anastasiia Berezovska's death in Ukraine, while she was a suspect in a high-profile bombing in Monaco, introduces significant complexity to the ongoing investigation. The swift arrests of two Ukrainian security personnel in connection with her murder suggest a potential internal dimension or a sophisticated cover-up attempt related to the Monaco incident. The financial transfers between Berezovska and the arrested individuals indicate a possible contract killing or a payment for services rendered, raising questions about the motive behind the original Monaco attack and whether it was an isolated event or part of a broader conflict. The involvement of individuals linked to Ukrainian intelligence services, alongside a sanctioned oligarch as the target, highlights the intricate geopolitical and economic undercurrents that may be driving such violent acts. Future investigations will need to untangle the precise roles of each party, the chain of command, and the ultimate beneficiaries of these actions to understand the systemic risks and prevent similar incidents.
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