Investigators believe Vladyslav Reut and Vitalii Zhykovych may have been involved in organizing the assassination attempt on sanctioned businessman Vadym Yermolaiev in Monaco. So far, both men have officially been charged only in connection with the murder of Anastasiia Berezovska, whom Monaco law enforcement authorities suspected of planting the explosive device.
Ukrainska Pravda reported this, citing sources close to the investigation.
According to the publication’s sources, Reut, a serving officer of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, and Zhykovych, a former Security Service of Ukraine officer, have begun cooperating with investigators and are providing detailed testimony. Their accounts of the key episodes reportedly match, allowing investigators to reconstruct the sequence of events.
The suspects said Berezovska had lived with her son in Germany for several years under refugee status. They named money as one possible motive for her participation in the operation, claiming that she hoped to earn enough to buy a house in Ukraine.
Berezovska’s travel, accommodation, car rentals and other expenses were allegedly covered. Reut and Zhykovych also claimed that before the attempt on Yermolaiev, she had participated in other operations, including ones connected to blogger Anatolii Sharii.
One of the key episodes in the case concerns the construction of the explosive device. According to Ukrainska Pravda’s sources, Reut admitted that he had made an electronic initiation unit designed to trigger the main explosive charge.
The component was allegedly disguised as a children’s toy car and delivered to Berezovska via Germany. Investigators believe she then assembled the explosive device into working condition.
Zhykovych, however, claims that Berezovska could not have built such a device by herself because it required specialized knowledge and training.
According to one of the suspects, the original plan allegedly involved kidnapping Yermolaiev rather than killing him. The assignment was reportedly changed later.
Investigators are also examining a theory that after French law enforcement authorities identified Berezovska, the suspects may have decided to eliminate her because she could have provided information about other participants in the operation.
The publication’s sources described Reut as a highly qualified explosives specialist. Investigators continue to compare the suspects’ testimony with other evidence.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office clarified that Reut and Zhykovych have so far been charged only with Berezovska’s murder.
The explosion in Monaco occurred on the evening of June 29. Three people were injured, two of them very seriously. Vadym Yermolaiev and members of his family were among those injured.
On July 3, Interpol placed Berezovska on its international wanted list. Monaco law enforcement authorities suspected her of planting the explosive device.
On July 7, it emerged that Berezovska had been found murdered and buried near Kyiv. The same day, law enforcement officials announced the detention of Reut and Zhykovych.
According to investigators, Berezovska was killed on July 3 near the village of Yuriv in Kyiv Oblast. On July 9, Kyiv’s Pecherskyi District Court ordered both suspects to be held in custody without the right to bail.
