Footage captures the moment a suspected bomber calmly walks away before a massive explosion devastates a luxury residential complex in an apparent assassination bid targeting a Ukrainian oligarch.
According to investigators, a backpack filled with explosives was left in the entrance of the Sun Palace apartment building just before property magnate Vadim Ermolaev, also known as Vadym Yermolaiev, his partner Anna Nasobina, and their 13-year-old son Ariel arrived at the scene.
Recently released footage from the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office shows an individual walking away while talking on a mobile phone moments before the blast in Monaco on June 29. The person in the video is believed to be Ukrainian national Anastasiia Berezovska, whom Interpol had identified as the main suspect in the attempted assassination, labeling her as “armed” and “dangerous.”
The 39-year-old Berezovska was later found deceased near Kyiv on July 6 after sustaining gunshot wounds. She was wanted for suspected crimes including attempted murder, placing an explosive device with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy.
As a consequence of the explosion, Nasobina, aged 46, reportedly lost both legs, while Ermolaev suffered severe burns and shrapnel injuries, and their 13-year-old son also sustained injuries.
Monaco deputy prosecutor Morgan Raymond stated that Berezovska allegedly disguised herself as a man during the attack.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko revealed that the surveillance footage was retrieved after the attackers attempted to delete it. The footage, recovered by specialists from the Security Service of Ukraine, was crucial evidence, showing the individuals behind the attack.
In a court appearance, Ukrainian military intelligence officer Vladyslav Reut faced charges related to Berezovska’s murder alongside co-defendant Vitalii Zhykovych, a former employee of Ukraine’s SBU security service. Both individuals denied the accusations.
Ermolaev has accused officers from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, HUR, of orchestrating the bombing without presenting concrete evidence to substantiate his claims.
A spokesperson for HUR refuted the allegations, dismissing them as “subjective political statements” that could potentially hinder the investigation.
Investigators are exploring potential connections between the bombing and allegations involving a network of fraudulent call centers in Ukraine that supposedly targeted victims across Europe, although no definitive link has been established.
Ermolaev, ranked as Ukraine’s 39th wealthiest individual by Forbes in 2020, disclosed that he is currently receiving intensive care. He described the severe injuries sustained by Nasobina and their son, emphasizing that the incident was not a warning but a direct attempt on their lives.
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