In brief
A parcel bomb exploded at a Monaco apartment building on Monday evening, severely injuring Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev, his wife and their 13‑year‑old son. Police in Monaco and France have shot a second‑hand manhunt, tracing the suspect’s escape into the French commune of Beausoleil. Surveillance footage captured a backpack being dropped in the lobby minutes before the blast, prompting heavy emergency response and cross‑border cooperation. The incident marks the first such attack on the principality, prompting a statement from Prince Albert II and heightened security measures in the region.
A parcel bomb exploded in the late‑night hours on Monday at an apartment building on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, located near the border with France. The blast severely injured Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev, 58, his wife and their 13‑year‑old son, all of whom are receiving treatment in Nice.
Monaco authorities say the bomb was dropped by a backpack that was abandoned in the building’s lobby minutes before detonation. Surveillance footage shows a man leaving the structure on foot, heading toward the French commune of Beausoleil. French police have mobilised over 100 officers and emergency responders to the scene, with a tactical unit now conducting a cross‑border manhunt.
"The suspect appears to have fled into France," Minister of State Christophe Mirmand told BFM TV. According to AFP, the device contained bolts and pellets, suggesting an improvised weapon. This has marked the first instance of such an attack in Monaco’s history, according to Prince Albert II, who described the event as a heinous crime and a shock to the entire community.
Yermolaiev, a former Ukrainian citizen who has since acquired Cypriot citizenship, is a noted real estate developer with significant interests in Crimea’s wine and alcohol sector. He has been sanctioned by Kyiv since 2023, and Forbes ranked him as the 39th richest Ukrainian in 2020. His family’s injuries and the looming manhunt underscore the increasingly volatile security climate at the intersection of billion‑dollar wealth and geopolitical tension.
Police officers and emergency services have on the ground for more than five minutes after the blast, noted local resident Harri Richie, who climbed to the 11th floor to find injured evacuees. A helicopter overhead kept a watchful eye until dawn, and the mayor’s office has coordinated closely with French allies to pursue the suspect across the border.
