Lead
Interpol has identified a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman as the main suspect in Monday's parcel bombing in Monaco that seriously wounded a Ukrainian-born oligarch and two others. The suspect, Anastasiia Berezovska, was named in a Red Notice posted on Interpol's website on Friday, according to multiple reports.
Monaco's prosecutor's office had earlier announced that an arrest warrant had been issued for the suspect, who would be the subject of an Interpol Red Notice. The notice is a request to locate and provisionally arrest a suspect, not an international arrest warrant.
Coverage Comparison
Reporting on the investigation has been consistent across Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, France 24, and the South China Morning Post, all focusing on the identification of the suspect and the legal steps taken by Monaco authorities. The outlets agree that the bombing targeted a Ukrainian tycoon with links to Russia, reportedly Vadym Yermolaiev, but differ slightly in their emphasis on the suspect's description and the status of the victims.
Deutsche Welle and France 24 both cite Monaco's prosecutor's office and French media reports, noting that the suspect is believed to be a woman who tried to pass off as a man. The South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera highlight the Interpol Red Notice and provide a physical description of the suspect, including a tattoo and language skills.
Key Claims
According to reports, Monaco authorities issued an arrest warrant for the suspect in the parcel bombing that seriously wounded a Ukrainian-born oligarch and two others, including a 13-year-old. The suspect will be the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, as confirmed by the prosecutor's office.
The oligarch, Vadym Yermolaiev, was sanctioned by Ukraine over his business activities in Russia-annexed Crimea. Reports indicate he was 58 years old, born in Ukraine, holds Cypriot citizenship, and has been a resident of Monaco since at least 2021.
Interpol named the suspect as Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old woman from Ukraine. The Red Notice describes her as having dark hair and a tattoo, possibly of a snake, on her right arm from the shoulder to the elbow. She is reported to speak German.
The attack occurred on Monday evening when an individual left a package in the entrance hall of a residential building near the French border. An explosive device detonated as a couple and a 13-year-old were entering, injuring all three. The businessman's condition improved by Wednesday, but his partner's condition had not yet stabilized. A judicial investigation for attempted murder and several other charges has been opened, according to the prosecutor's office.
Perspectives
Monaco's public prosecutor, Stephane Thibault, praised the work of police and international cooperation in identifying the suspect in a short time. He announced a press briefing for Friday, but did not address the suspect's possible disguise, as reported by French media.
Ukrainian authorities had imposed sanctions on Yermolaiev in 2023, alleging he continued business activities in Russian-annexed Crimea and paid taxes to Moscow after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Yermolaiev has reportedly renounced his Ukrainian citizenship.