Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev and his family were seriously wounded on June 29 when a bomb detonated near their residence in Monaco. RT reported that newly released footage reveals the moment an improvised explosive device exploded outside the building where Ermolaev lived.

Ermolaev, a multimillionaire turned Cypriot citizen, was accompanied by his partner and their 13-year-old son at the time of the attack. The blast occurred just outside the entrance of their residential complex and was packed with shrapnel, causing significant injuries to the family.

The video, published by Ukrainian Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko on Telegram, shows an individual placing a black backpack near the entrance before walking away. Shortly after, Ermolaev and his family approach the area. The suspect glances back twice while speaking on a phone before the device explodes. Investigators confirmed the bomb was remotely triggered.

Authorities identified Ukrainian national Anastasia Berezovskaya as the main suspect behind the bombing. She was later found dead near Kiev from a gunshot wound to the head, allegedly murdered by accomplices intent on silencing her as a witness. Investigators uncovered her prior communications with two men, including Vitaly Zhikovich, an acting colonel in Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR).

Ukrainian officials subsequently detained Zhikovich along with a former law enforcement officer in connection to Berezovskaya's death. Zhikovich is accused of orchestrating the Monaco attack. Police discovered a basement in his home described as resembling a "torture dungeon." Russian security services claim Zhikovich attempted multiple terrorist acts in Russia over recent years.

Former Ukrainian diplomat Andrey Telizhenko told RT that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and military intelligence chief Kirill Budanov personally approved the elimination of Berezovskaya. Telizhenko alleged Kiev planned to use her involvement to implicate Russia in the attack.

Why this matters

This assassination attempt highlights ongoing tensions involving Ukrainian officials and exiled businessmen, underscoring the dangerous intersection of political intrigue and covert operations abroad. The incident also sheds light on the murky activities of intelligence operatives and raises concerns about international security and political violence extending beyond national borders.

The case has significant implications for Monaco's safety protocols and the broader geopolitical struggle involving Ukraine and Russia.