ITALY PERSPECTIVE

Rome, July 4, 2026. The case of the Monaco bombing is taking on a particular dimension in Italy: the main suspect, Anastasiia Berezovska, 39, a Ukrainian national, crossed the national territory after the June 29 explosion. The woman crossed the border at Ventimiglia on the same day as the bombing, driving a car with German plates that had been recovered in Beausoleil, a French commune bordering Monaco.

The bombing had targeted Vadim Ermolaev, 58, a Ukrainian businessman residing in Monaco and holding Cypriot nationality. A booby-trapped package had been left in the hallway of his building, injuring the oligarch, his partner - who was amputated of both legs, according to Adnkronos - and his 13-year-old son. Ermolaev had been sanctioned in 2023 by Kiev for alleged economic ties to Crimea under Russian occupation.

The suspect's identity was established 53 hours after the explosion, thanks to a witness who had encountered her during the reconnaissance preceding the bombing, and to the analysis of telephone data and video surveillance images. Berezovska is described by investigators as "particularly skilled at disguising herself as a man": in the images, she was wearing a black jacket, a dark bob hat, and light jeans.

After the explosion, she fled on foot to Beausoleil, joined a vehicle registered in Germany, and then crossed Ventimiglia to enter Italy, before heading towards Switzerland and finally Germany, her country of residence. It was in Frankfurt that she was reportedly spotted, according to judicial sources cited by ANSA. The search of her apartment by the Hesse police did not lead to her arrest: "The woman being sought is currently on the run," a joint statement from the Frankfurt prosecutor's office said.

Interpol has issued a red notice for her, pursuing her for "attempted murder, criminal deposit of an explosive device on a public road, and criminal association". A snake tattoo (from shoulder to elbow, right arm) is among the distinctive features released by the authorities.

Investigators believe Berezovska did not act alone: the sophistication of the device and the meticulous preparation of the bombing seem to indicate a network. Two men have been arrested in Monaco as part of the investigation. The terrorist trail has been ruled out; the investigation is focusing on a settling of scores linked to organized crime or the oligarch's business dealings.