Parcel bomb attack injures Ukrainian oligarch in Monaco

A parcel bomb detonated Monday evening in an apartment building on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, injuring wealthy Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev, his wife and son. Two victims were rushed to hospital in Nice, one in critical condition, while a woman suffered severe injuries. Monaco’s prosecutor, Stéphane Thibault, stated the incident is being treated as an attempted murder rather than a terrorist attack.

The blast occurred shortly before 21:00 local time, just metres from the French border. Surveillance footage released by Monaco’s police shows a man dropping a backpack in the lobby moments before the explosion and then fleeing toward the French commune of Beausoleil. French authorities have issued a manhunt for the suspect, with more than 100 police and emergency personnel dispatched to the scene.

Monaco’s government confirmed the device contained bolts and pellets. Four additional people were treated for shock and cuts from debris. The incident has not been linked to any known terrorist organization, but the government is investigating potential motives.

Yermolaiev, 58, is a real‑estate developer from Dnipro who has been living in Monaco and holds Cypriot citizenship after renouncing his Ukrainian nationality in 2019. He had been the subject of sanctions by Kyiv since 2023 because of his involvement in the wine and alcohol business in Russian‑annexed Crimea. Despite his wealth – Forbes listed him as the 39th richest Ukrainian in 2020 – he has rarely been in the spotlight.

Monaco’s Prince Albert II called the event a "heinous crime" and expressed shock at the unprecedented nature of the attack. According to the French newspaper Le Figaro, the three seriously injured victims are Yermolaiev, his partner and their 13‑year‑old son.

The next steps involve a multinational effort: Ukraine’s foreign ministry is coordinating with Monaco’s authorities, while French police continue to search the border region for the suspect. More details will be released as the investigation unfolds.