Monaco bombing mystery deepens after suspect killed in Ukraine
The investigation into the Monaco bomb attack has taken a new turn after the main suspect was found dead in Ukraine, where two men have been charged with her murder.
The investigation into the bombing that seriously injured Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev and his partner in Monaco has taken a dramatic turn after the woman accused of planting the explosive was found shot dead in Ukraine.
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Anastasiia Berezovska, 39, was reportedly killed with four gunshots to the head.
Ukrainian prosecutors say a military intelligence officer admitted carrying out the killing with the help of a former police officer.
Both men have been arrested and charged with premeditated murder.
The developments have fuelled speculation over who ordered the failed assassination.
Some pro-Russian commentators have alleged the operation was state-directed, although Ukrainian authorities say the intelligence officer acted on his own initiative without informing his superiors.
Investigators are examining several possible motives.
One focuses on Ermolaev's legal and political disputes in Ukraine, where he has faced sanctions over alleged links to Russia.
Another explores possible connections to organised crime, including business dealings involving his son, Artur Ermolaev, who has previously admitted involvement in the fraudulent Milton Group call-centre network but avoided prison through a financial settlement.
Authorities are also considering whether family financial disputes linked to Ermolaev's substantial fortune may have played a role.
Ermolaev, once ranked among Ukraine's wealthiest businessmen, owns several luxury properties in Monaco and on the French Riviera, as well as a 52-metre yacht.
Investigators believe his wealth alone could have provided a motive if the attack was financially motivated.
Despite the arrests in Ukraine, investigators have not identified who ultimately ordered the bombing, and the attempted assassination remains unsolved.