Interpol has issued a red notice for a Ukrainian woman suspected of carrying out a bomb attack in Monaco earlier this week, an incident that left several people wounded, including a prominent Ukrainian business figure. The international police organization identified the suspect as 39-year-old Anastasiia Berezovska, who is now the subject of a global request for provisional arrest.
The explosion occurred on Monday evening in the wealthy city-state, a sovereign microstate on the French Riviera. According to the Monaco public prosecutor’s office, the suspect placed an explosive device outside a building in the Place des Moulins, a bustling square in the heart of the principality. The victims, returning from dinner, were targeted as they approached the building. The suspect, who had been sitting on a bench, reportedly used a remote control to detonate the bomb after verifying the victims’ presence.
Ukrainian business tycoon Vadym Yermolaiev was among those injured, though details on his condition remain scarce. Yermolaiev is a well-known figure in Ukraine’s business circles, with interests in media and real estate. The attack has sent shockwaves through Monaco’s tight-knit expatriate community, where high-net-worth individuals often reside.
Interpol’s red notice describes Berezovska as a German-speaking woman with dark hair and a tattoo—possibly of a snake—on her upper right arm. The notice is a request for law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest her, but it is not an international arrest warrant. It serves as a tool to facilitate extradition proceedings.
Investigators have traced a car with German license plates believed to have been used by the suspect. The vehicle was tracked through Monaco, into France, and across the border into Italy, according to the prosecutor. The suspect is thought to have disguised herself as a man during the attack, adding a layer of complexity to the manhunt.
Cross-Border Investigation Intensifies
German police have reportedly searched the home of a Ukrainian woman suspected of involvement in the attack, though no arrests have been made. The investigation spans multiple European jurisdictions, highlighting the continent’s interconnected security landscape. The suspect’s ability to move across borders—from Monaco to France and into Italy—underscores the challenges of tracking individuals in the Schengen Area.
This incident is not the first time a Ukrainian national has been linked to a major security event in Europe. In a separate case, a Ukrainian national was charged in a German court over the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, a reminder of the geopolitical tensions that sometimes spill over into criminal acts. The Monaco bombing, however, appears to be a targeted attack rather than a politically motivated one, though motives remain unclear.
The Monaco public prosecutor’s office has provided few details about the victims or the possible motive, but they confirmed that the suspect had conducted “several reconnaissance missions” in the days leading up to the attack. This suggests a degree of premeditation that investigators are now piecing together.
For the principality, known for its glamour and low crime rate, the bombing is a rare and jarring event. Monaco’s police force, which works closely with French authorities, has ramped up security measures in the aftermath. The case also draws attention to the broader issue of cross-border crime in Europe, where criminals can exploit the continent’s open borders.
As the manhunt continues, European law enforcement agencies are coordinating through Interpol and Europol. The red notice for Berezovska is a critical step, but her whereabouts remain unknown. The investigation is a test of Europe’s ability to respond to transnational threats, from terrorism to organized crime, in an era of heightened security concerns.
