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Explosion in Monaco Wounds Ukrainian Oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev and Two Others
On the night of June 29, a sudden blast rattled a quiet Monaco street, leaving three people wounded, one of them the high‑profile Ukrainian‑born businessman Vadym Yermolaiev.
The explosion struck a residential building at about 9:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on a street near the French border. Three people were injured: Yermolaiev, a woman in her 50s or 60s, and a 13‑year‑old boy who was likely related to the woman. The two adults were reported to be in life‑threatening condition, while the child suffered less serious injuries. Emergency services also treated four additional people for shock and cuts caused by shattered windows.
According to a source close to the investigation, the device contained bolts and buckshot. Public prosecutor Stéphane Thibault said a suspect had left a bag or package in the building’s lobby before fleeing. No motive for targeting the building has been identified.
Monaco’s Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, called the blast a “deliberate explosion” and noted that it was unprecedented in the principality’s history. He added that police were working to locate the perpetrator, who had fled to France.
An aide to French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that police were conducting a cross‑border manhunt.
Prince Albert II described the incident as a “heinous crime” and a “shock to the entire Monegasque community.” The principality’s security forces cordoned off the area and a helicopter hovered overhead while investigators examined the scene.
Yermolaiev, a multi‑millionaire resident of Monaco, has been subject to Ukrainian sanctions since December 2023. Ukrainian security services say the sanctions stem from his alcohol‑business activities in Russian‑occupied Crimea. Yermolaiev is a Ukrainian‑born property developer who renounced his citizenship and holds Cypriot citizenship.
The investigation is ongoing. Mirmand said a news briefing would be held on Tuesday. No further details about the suspect’s identity or the reason for the attack have been released.
The incident has drawn attention to Monaco’s security posture. The principality relies heavily on France for defense, and the explosion has prompted discussions about cross‑border cooperation in law‑enforcement and intelligence sharing.
International media outlets have reported on the event, noting that it is the first explosive attack in Monaco in its history. The explosion has also raised questions about the safety of high‑profile residents in the microstate.
The French Interior Ministry has not yet released a statement on the investigation, but officials have confirmed that the suspect is believed to have fled into France. French police are cooperating with Monégasque authorities.
The explosion occurred on Rue Révérend‑Père‑Louis‑Frolla, a residential street close to the Monaco‑France border. The building’s lobby was the location where the suspect left a bag containing the explosive device.
The incident has not yet been classified as a terrorist attack. Monaco’s prosecutor’s office has described it as a deliberate act, but has not provided evidence linking it to any organized group.
The local community has expressed concern over the safety of residents. The principality’s police have increased patrols in the area and are reviewing security protocols for residential buildings.
The investigation remains in its early stages. Authorities have not yet identified the suspect or the motive. The next scheduled briefing by the prosecutor’s office will likely provide additional information.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of even the most secure European microstates to targeted attacks. It also highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding Ukrainian sanctions and the potential for retaliation against sanctioned individuals.
As the investigation continues, Monaco and French authorities are working closely to locate the suspect and determine whether the explosion was an isolated incident or part of a broader threat.
The incident is being monitored by international news agencies, and further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
The explosion struck a residential building at about 9:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on a street near the French border. Three people were injured: Yermolaiev, a woman in her 50s or 60s, and a 13‑year‑old boy who was likely related to the woman. The two adults were reported to be in life‑threatening condition, while the child suffered less serious injuries. Emergency services also treated four additional people for shock and cuts caused by shattered windows.
According to a source close to the investigation, the device contained bolts and buckshot. Public prosecutor Stéphane Thibault said a suspect had left a bag or package in the building’s lobby before fleeing. No motive for targeting the building has been identified.
Monaco’s Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, called the blast a “deliberate explosion” and noted that it was unprecedented in the principality’s history. He added that police were working to locate the perpetrator, who had fled to France.
An aide to French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that police were conducting a cross‑border manhunt.
Prince Albert II described the incident as a “heinous crime” and a “shock to the entire Monegasque community.” The principality’s security forces cordoned off the area and a helicopter hovered overhead while investigators examined the scene.
Yermolaiev, a multi‑millionaire resident of Monaco, has been subject to Ukrainian sanctions since December 2023. Ukrainian security services say the sanctions stem from his alcohol‑business activities in Russian‑occupied Crimea. Yermolaiev is a Ukrainian‑born property developer who renounced his citizenship and holds Cypriot citizenship.
The investigation is ongoing. Mirmand said a news briefing would be held on Tuesday. No further details about the suspect’s identity or the reason for the attack have been released.
The incident has drawn attention to Monaco’s security posture. The principality relies heavily on France for defense, and the explosion has prompted discussions about cross‑border cooperation in law‑enforcement and intelligence sharing.
International media outlets have reported on the event, noting that it is the first explosive attack in Monaco in its history. The explosion has also raised questions about the safety of high‑profile residents in the microstate.
The French Interior Ministry has not yet released a statement on the investigation, but officials have confirmed that the suspect is believed to have fled into France. French police are cooperating with Monégasque authorities.
The explosion occurred on Rue Révérend‑Père‑Louis‑Frolla, a residential street close to the Monaco‑France border. The building’s lobby was the location where the suspect left a bag containing the explosive device.
The incident has not yet been classified as a terrorist attack. Monaco’s prosecutor’s office has described it as a deliberate act, but has not provided evidence linking it to any organized group.
The local community has expressed concern over the safety of residents. The principality’s police have increased patrols in the area and are reviewing security protocols for residential buildings.
The investigation remains in its early stages. Authorities have not yet identified the suspect or the motive. The next scheduled briefing by the prosecutor’s office will likely provide additional information.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of even the most secure European microstates to targeted attacks. It also highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding Ukrainian sanctions and the potential for retaliation against sanctioned individuals.
As the investigation continues, Monaco and French authorities are working closely to locate the suspect and determine whether the explosion was an isolated incident or part of a broader threat.
The incident is being monitored by international news agencies, and further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
