Ukrainian woman wanted in connection with Monaco bombing found dead

Lead

Ukrainian authorities have found the body of Anastasiia Berezovska, the woman suspected of carrying out a parcel bombing in Monaco in June that seriously wounded Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev. Two men, including a serving officer in Ukraine's military intelligence, have been detained and ordered held without bail in connection with her killing, according to Ukrainian officials.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting from BBC, France 24, and the South China Morning Post provides a consistent picture of the main events. All three outlets report that Berezovska's body was discovered with gunshot wounds to the head. The BBC, citing Ukraine's security service (SBU), said the 39-year-old's body was found with gunshot wounds to the head, and that a current officer within Ukraine's Ministry of Defence had been detained on suspicion of murder. France 24 reported that a Ukrainian court had remanded two men in custody for killing Berezovska, describing them as a serving officer in Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) and a former law enforcement officer. The South China Morning Post said an officer serving in Ukraine's military intelligence agency confessed to killing Berezovska with the help of a former law enforcement officer.

The three outlets also align on the connection between the two suspects and Berezovska. The BBC reported that the suspects had repeatedly transferred funds to Berezovska's crypto and bank accounts. France 24 and the South China Morning Post similarly noted that investigators focused on the two men after discovering they had repeatedly transferred cryptocurrency and money through bank accounts to Berezovska.

There are minor differences in emphasis and additional details. The South China Morning Post reported that the attack on June 29 targeted Yermolaiev's family, including a child, and quoted Monaco's Prince Albert II describing the blast as "an odious act." France 24 reported that Yermolaiev was sanctioned by Ukraine in 2023 for alleged business dealings in Russian-annexed Crimea. The BBC reported that Berezovska arrived in Ukraine two days after the attack, on July 1.

Key Claims

• Ukrainian authorities found the body of Anastasiia Berezovska, who was wanted by Monaco in connection with the June 29 parcel bombing that seriously wounded Vadym Yermolaiev, his partner, and his son, as reported by BBC, France 24, and the South China Morning Post.
• Berezovska's body was found with gunshot wounds to the head; spent pistol casings were recovered at the scene, according to Ukrainian authorities cited by France 24 and the South China Morning Post.
• Two men, a serving officer in Ukraine's military intelligence and a former law enforcement officer, have been detained on suspicion of killing Berezovska, as reported by BBC, France 24, and the South China Morning Post.
• The two suspects had repeatedly transferred cryptocurrency and money to Berezovska's bank accounts, according to the SBU, as reported by BBC, France 24, and the South China Morning Post.
• The SBU said the officer confessed to killing Berezovska with the help of the former law enforcement officer, according to the South China Morning Post and BBC. France 24 reported that the HUR employee had retracted his confession, saying the other defendant had fired the shots.
• Interpol had identified Berezovska as the main suspect, issuing a Red Notice seeking her arrest on charges of attempted murder, placing an explosive device in a public place with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy, as reported by France 24 and the South China Morning Post.
• Vadym Yermolaiev, a Ukrainian-born property developer with links to Russia, was sanctioned by Ukraine in 2023 for alleged business dealings in Russian-annexed Crimea, as reported by France 24.
• The attack on June 29 targeted Yermolaiev's family, including a child, according to the South China Morning Post. Prince Albert II called the blast "an odious act," the outlet reported.