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Three people were injured in an explosion at the entrance to a palace in Monaco. Among them are Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaev, his wife and 13-year-old son. The suspected perpetrator is still at large…
A powerful explosion occurred on Monday evening in a residential building in Monaco, injuring three people, including Ukrainian businessman and oligarch Vadym Yermolaev, his wife and their 13-year-old son. According to local media, Yermolaev is in serious condition.
Photos from the scene show the bloody entrance to the Sun's Palace building, on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, near the French border. According to preliminary investigations, the perpetrator is suspected of having left a bag of explosives filled with screws and metal objects near the entrance before leaving. He has not yet been arrested.
Prince Albert II of Monaco condemned the attack, calling it a "heinous crime." In his statement, he said the event had shocked the entire Monegasque community and stressed that the principality would remain steadfast in the face of violence and crime, ensuring that the safety of its citizens remained a priority.
According to the head of the government of Monaco, Christophe Mirmand, the perpetrator crossed the border into France on foot after the attack and was identified through security cameras in Monaco and the French town of Beausoleil.
Who is Vadym Yermolaev?
Vadym Yermolaev, 58, is considered one of Ukraine's richest businessmen and ranks among the country's wealthiest people. He has been living in Monaco for years and has been a Cypriot citizen since 2019.
In December 2023, Ukrainian authorities imposed sanctions on him by a decision of the National Security and Defense Council, approved by President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Ukrainian media, citing sources in the security services, the sanctions were imposed after Yermolaev was suspected of continuing commercial activities in Russian-annexed Crimea, in particular in the sector of selling alcoholic beverages.
Yermolaev is associated with the Alef Group, a commercial and industrial conglomerate founded in 1997, and is known for its investments in the development of the city of Dnipro.
He is one of the Ukrainian oligarchs who fled the country after the start of the war with Russia. In an interview with Forbes, he stated that he sought foreign citizenship because, according to him, the Ukrainian judicial system did not guarantee him sufficient international protection.
Yermolaev has four children with his wife, a dentist. The family has lived in Monaco for several years.
Monaco authorities have not officially confirmed the identities of the injured. Attorney General Stéphane Thibault is expected to provide more details during a press conference.
According to him, the explosive device was placed inside a bag or package left at the entrance to the building before the perpetrator left the scene.
Christophe Mirmand stated that, to his knowledge, this is the first attack of this kind in the history of the Principality of Monaco.
Around 50 firefighters, including teams from France, as well as 84 security services personnel, participated in the emergency operation.
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