In a shocking turn of events on Monday night, a parcel bomb detonated at an apartment building in Monaco, severely injuring Ukrainian real‑estate magnate Vadym Yermolaiev, his wife and their 13‑year‑old son.
The explosion occurred just before 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, a building situated close to the French border. Emergency crews reached the scene within five minutes, and the injured were transported to a hospital in Nice where Yermolaiev and his partner are now listed as in critical condition.
Monaco’s government has confirmed the blast was caused by a parcel bomb. Video footage shows a man dropping a backpack in the lobby minutes before the detonation. Police believe he was trying to disguise the device as a harmless package.
According to Chief Minister Christophe Mirmand, a suspect fled on foot toward the French commune of Beausoleil immediately after the blast. French and Monaco officials have joined forces in a coordinated search, deploying over 100 officers and emergency personnel in both jurisdictions.
Ambassador Prince Albert II described the attack as a “heinous crime” and a “shock to the entire Monaco community.” He announced that all state services are now fully mobilised, in collaboration with French authorities.
Yermolaiev, a 58‑year‑old Dnipro native who has resided in Monaco for years, holds significant stakes in property and wine ventures, including holdings in the Russian‑annexed Crimea. He renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019, becoming a Cypriot citizen. Forbes ranked him 39th richest Ukrainian in 2020 with a net worth of $230 million (£173.8 million).
Policemen continue to comb the streets of Beausoleil, while investigators search for the backpack and any forensic evidence left in the scene. With the suspect believed to have crossed into France, international cooperation remains crucial in bringing those responsible to justice.
