Not a quiet haven: the first terrorist attack in the country's history took place in Monaco

In Monaco, at approximately 21:00 (22:00 Moscow time) on June 29, an explosion occurred in the entrance of an apartment building. According to media reports, all the victims are citizens of Ukraine. There has been no official confirmation of this information yet. The details of the incident are in the Izvestia article.

The terrorist attack in Monaco

The first terrorist attack in its history took place in Monaco. This was stated by the State Minister of the Principality, Christophe Mirman.

"As far as I know, this is the first time in history that something like this has happened in the principality," BFMTV quoted him as saying.

It all happened at about 21:00 (22:00 Moscow time) on June 29 in the entrance of an apartment building. According to surveillance footage, the incident occurred after an unknown man left a backpack on Reveren-Pere-Louis-Folla Street. The suspect fled.

As Mirman noted, the explosive device was filled with bolts and metal pellets. The police are currently conducting an inspection of the scene and establishing all the circumstances of the incident.

As a result of the detonation of the explosive device, a man, a woman and a teenager were seriously injured. They are hospitalized.

After the incident, a red interception plan was announced in Monaco.

"The police check almost all incoming vehicles, and there are increased checks at the border. Law enforcement agencies are continuing to search for a man who fled the scene after the explosion," correspondent Kristina Gershwild told Izvestia.

Despite the fact that the incident was declared a terrorist attack, Mirman later said that "caution should be exercised in the legal qualification of these events." "The investigation is ongoing," he stressed.

Who was injured during the terrorist attack in Monaco

According to the main media version, the victims are a Ukrainian oligarch, his wife and child. Nevertheless, the newspaper Le Figaro did not mention his name. BFMTV, in turn, claims that this is Vadim Ermolaev, a native of Ukraine and one of the country's wealthiest businessmen.

Earlier it was also reported that Russian citizens could be among the victims.

"According to the information we have, all three victims are members of the same Ukrainian family. Two parents, one of whom may be a Ukrainian oligarch, are in critical condition, and the minor is in serious but stable condition," Figaro newspaper reported.

Later, the Ukrainian portal "News. Live", citing sources, reported that an attempt was made against businessman Vadim Ermolaev.

However, the police have not yet confirmed the nationality of the victims of the explosion.

"We are currently collecting and systematizing information, so so far we have no information that we could provide," the police told RIA Novosti when asked if the victims were citizens of Russia or Ukraine.

Christophe Mirman also refused to confirm the nationality of the victims.

"I do not confirm this. This information relates to the judicial investigation, I cannot disclose it," the head of government said on the BFMTV channel.

Who is Vadim Ermolaev?

Vadim Ermolaev is a native of Ukraine and one of the wealthiest businessmen in the country. Forbes Ukraine included him in the top 100 richest citizens of the country in 2021. His fortune was estimated at $220 million. He is the founder and owner of Alef ("Alef"), which was engaged in the construction of commercial facilities in Dnepropetrovsk and was one of the largest developers in the city.

However, in 2019, Ermolaev renounced his Ukrainian citizenship and became a citizen of Cyprus. In December 2023, Vladimir Zelensky imposed personal sanctions against the businessman for a period of 10 years. Ermolaev was convicted of having re-registered his wine and vodka business in Crimea according to Russian laws and paid taxes to the budget of the Russian Federation. In addition, the oligarch is accused of holing up in safe countries far from the fighting.

According to media reports, his son, Artur, organized a large-scale telephone fraud network in Estonia that caused more than €100 million in damage. He served more than four months in an Estonian prison, after which he was deported.

"The Monaco Battalion"

Ermolaev is not the only Ukrainian businessman living in Monaco. The Ukrainska Pravda newspaper is conducting an investigation into Ukrainian businessmen, politicians and oligarchs who settled on the Cote d'Azur during the military conflict. According to them, the number of relocants is "obscenely large."The VIP refugees were nicknamed the "Monaco Battalion."

Among them is Ukraine's richest man, billionaire Rinat Akhmetov (included in the register of extremist associations in Russia as a member of an extremist organization). In April of this year, it became known that Akhmetov had bought luxury five-storey apartments in the most prestigious new residential complex in Monaco for $554 million. The purchase was one of the largest real estate transactions in the country's history. According to the documents, the elite facility became the property of a Ukrainian businessman in 2024.

Former Ukrainian leader Leonid Kuchma was also seen on the Cote d'Azur earlier. In 2023, a video was distributed online showing him doing Nordic walking accompanied by former Ukrainian MPs. Then he approaches the house belonging to his son-in-law, the Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Pinchuk.

Former MP Vadim Stolar, who is accused in Nezalezhnaya of allegedly having pro-Russian views and friendship with the enemies of Ukraine, is also among those who settled on the Cote d'Azur.