Monaco suspect's murder: Kyiv arrests
Ukrainian authorities detain GUR officer and accomplice in Monaco bombing suspect's murder in Kyiv
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Key Points
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Kirill Budanov, who led Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate from August 2020 until January 2026, later became the head of President Zelensky's office.
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Berezhovskaya arrived in Ukraine on July 1 and, investigators say, maintained communications with the suspected GUR officer and the accomplice during that period.
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Interpol had identified Berezovska as the main Monaco bombing suspect and had issued a Red Notice for her arrest.
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Investigators described a basement at the former officer's home that resembled a torture chamber.
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The Monaco bombing left three people injured, including a child.
Anastasiia Berezovska, the 39-year-old Ukrainian woman suspected of planting a parcel bomb in Monaco, has been found shot dead in Kyiv with gunshot wounds to the head, according to NBC News. Two men have been arrested in connection with her murder: a current officer from Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) — the country's military spy agency — and a former law enforcement officer.
The case has sent shockwaves through Ukraine and beyond. Berezovska was the prime suspect in a 2024 bombing that injured Ukrainian multi-millionaire Vadym Yermolaiev, his wife, and a child in Monaco. Now, the very officers who may have known her whereabouts are accused of killing her before she could face justice, according to CBS News.
Monaco Parcel Bomb Left Three People Injured
The Monaco attack targeted Vadym Yermolaiev, a wealthy Ukrainian-born businessman. A parcel bomb exploded and injured Yermolaiev, his wife, and a child. Authorities in Monaco launched an investigation and quickly focused on Berezovska as the main suspect, according to CBS News.
Interpol issued a Red Notice for Berezovska's arrest — a global alert asking law enforcement agencies to locate and detain a suspect. Officials called the attack an 'odious act.' Investigators tracked Berezovska's movements through Monaco, across Europe, and eventually into Ukraine, according to NBC News.
Berezovska Arrived in Kyiv Days Before Her Death
Berezovska entered Ukraine on July 1, according to investigators. During that time, she was in contact with both suspects — the GUR officer and the former law enforcement official. Investigators believe those communications are key to understanding what happened next, according to WDC News 6.
Authorities traced cryptocurrency transfers and bank payments linked to Berezovska as part of the probe. Those financial trails helped connect her to the two detained men. She was found dead shortly after arriving in the country, with a bullet wound to the head.
GUR Officer Admitted Involvement, Basement Described as Torture Chamber
The detained GUR officer admitted involvement in Berezovska's death, according to TASS. Investigators also found a basement at the former law enforcement officer's home that they described as resembling a torture chamber. The detail has raised serious questions about how Berezovska died and whether she was held before being killed.
The GUR — Ukraine's military intelligence directorate — was led by Kirill Budanov from August 2020 until January 2026. Budanov has since become the head of President Zelensky's office. It is not yet clear how high up the chain of command knowledge of the killing may reach.
Ukraine's SBU Faces Questions Over a Silenced Witness
Ukraine's Security Service, the SBU, had previously identified Berezovska as the main Monaco bombing suspect alongside Interpol. Now, investigators must explain how she ended up dead on Ukrainian soil — killed, allegedly, by one of the country's own intelligence officers, according to Yahoo News.
The case puts Ukraine in a difficult position internationally. Yermolaiev and his family were victims of a violent attack abroad. The prime suspect in that attack is now dead before standing trial. Two men are in custody, but the full picture of who ordered the killing — and why — remains unclear.
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