Police in Monaco and neighbouring France have launched a manhunt for a suspect believed to have detonated a makeshift bomb in the centre of Monaco, seriously injuring several people.

Among the injured were three Ukrainian nationals, confirmed by Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The three, all members of one family, are believed to be Ukrainian-born oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev, his partner, and their 13-year-old son, according to French media reports.

Yermolaiev, one of Ukraine’s wealthiest businessmen, relocated to Monaco in 2021. He was placed under Ukrainian sanctions in December 2023 for continuing to operate his alcohol business in Russian-occupied Crimea after its annexation by Russia.

France’s Le Figaro newspaper reported that investigators are considering the theory that Ukraine’s Security Service directed the attack on Yermolaiev. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in 2023 that sanctions targeted those aiding Russia’s aggression or collaborating with the Russian state.

Born in Dnipro in 1968, Yermolaiev founded Aleg Group in 1995, with business interests spanning agribusiness, real estate, construction, and medical equipment, as reported by the Kyiv Independent.

Kyiv is currently verifying the citizenship of the injured family members. The investigation into the blast, which occurred at 9pm (19:00 GMT) on Monday, remains ongoing.

Sources

  • Al Jazeera
  • France’s Le Figaro (as cited by Al Jazeera)
  • Kyiv Independent (as cited by Al Jazeera)