The first terrorist attack in the history of the Principality of Monaco. What is known

On the evening of June 29, a powerful explosion occurred at the entrance to an apartment building in Monaco, which the principality's Minister of State Christophe Mirman called the first terrorist attack in the country's history. As a result, three people were injured. The media claim that Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev is among the victims. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

The circumstances of the incident

The explosion occurred at about 21:00 local time (22:00 Moscow time) at the entrance to an apartment building on Reverand-pere-Louis-Frolla Street, which is located near the border with France.

According to the investigation, an unidentified man in beige trousers, a black jacket and a wide-brimmed hat left a backpack with an explosive device at the stairs of the building, after which he left the scene, heading towards the French border. Surveillance cameras recorded the moment when he left his backpack. The bomb detonated when people appeared.

The Monegasque authorities introduced a "red interception plan" after the explosion. The police are checking all incoming vehicles on the border of the principality with France and are searching for a suspect, correspondent Kristina Gershwild told Izvestia. At the time of publication, the bomber had not been arrested.

Victims and their condition

As a result of the explosion, three people were injured — a married couple and their child. The investigation did not name names, but Ukrainian and French media reported that Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev, his wife and their 13—year-old son were among the wounded.

Two adults are in critical condition and have been taken to the Pasteur Hospital in Nice. The child was also hospitalized with less severe injuries. A total of seven people were taken to hospitals after the explosion, four of whom were "shocked" by the incident. The residents of the damaged building had their windows blown out by the blast.

Terrorist attack qualification

The Minister of State (Head of Government) of Monaco, Christophe Mirman, said that the incident was the first terrorist attack in the history of the principality. According to him, the explosive device was filled with damaging elements — bolts and metal pellets.

At the same time, Mirman stressed that caution should be exercised in the legal qualification of the events, since the investigation is ongoing, and refused to disclose the nationality of the victims. Nice Mayor Eric Ciotti condemned the attack, calling it a tragedy, and expressed solidarity with the victims. Prince Albert II of Monaco joined in the condolences on June 30, noting that the explosion was a shock to the citizens.

The personality of Vadim Ermolaev

Vadim Ermolaev is a Ukrainian businessman, born in 1968 in Dnepropetrovsk. He is the founder of the Alef Corporation and one of the largest developers in the city. According to Forbes Ukraine, in 2020 Ermolaev was on the list of the richest Ukrainians. In 2021, his fortune was estimated at $220 million. In 2019, he renounced his Ukrainian citizenship and received a Cyprus passport.

A large alcohol business is also connected with the businessman. Laurent Giacobelli, a member of the French Legislative Assembly, calls Ermolaev "the king of vodka and smuggling." The businessman also has a reputation as an arms dealer.

In 2023, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) imposed sanctions against Ermolaev for 10 years. According to Ukrainian media, the businessman is also linked to a large-scale network of criminal call centers that defrauded Russians and Europeans of money, provoking them to commit crimes. Last year, he was tried in Estonia for criminal activity.

In addition, Ermolaev is involved in the investigation of Ukrayinska Pravda about businessmen, politicians and oligarchs from Ukraine who settled on the Cote d'Azur during the military conflict.

The Ukrainian trace

The French press wrote several years ago that Ermolaev had long been closely involved in the area of interest of the Ukrainian security forces. The Nice-Matin publication calls the explosion suspicious, as the businessman was included in the list of the Security Service of Ukraine of 84 wealthy citizens of the country who left.

"The situation has changed for him. Personal sanctions were imposed on Ermolaev by decree of [President of Ukraine Vladimir] Zelensky under rather unusual circumstances. The SBU and the National Security Council did not provide evidence of guilt, so there were suspicions that a corruption story or a failed corruption deal could have taken place around the introduction of these sanctions," said terrorism expert Claude Monique.

A version is spreading that the SBU simply took revenge on Ermolaev for his unwillingness to share corrupt proceeds. The Ukrainian media, citing sources, call the incident an attempt on a businessman. There was no official confirmation of these assumptions at the time of publication.