Monaco bomb attack injures Ukrainian tycoon; international warrant issued

Monaco, a principality renowned for its security and luxury, is now at the center of international attention following a package bomb explosion in an elite residential building. The blast severely injured Ukrainian tycoon Vadim Yermolayev, his partner Ana Nasobina, and their 13-year-old son, according to The Times.

The incident occurred in the Sun Palace building on Rue Révérend-Père-Louis-Frolla, leaving residents in shock days later. Monaco's public prosecutor's office announced that a suspect has been identified, and an international arrest warrant has been issued via Interpol. Neighbor Silvano Ippolito recounted rushing to help the injured, describing the scene as horrific and noting his wife, a doctor, provided first aid.

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In the first moment, I thought she was dead. She was in a terrible state. I have never seen anything like it. Then I noticed her chest was moving. My wife is an emergency medicine doctor and she provided first aid.

Nasobina reportedly sustained the most severe injuries, with unconfirmed reports of both legs being amputated. Monaco's Chief Prosecutor Stéphane Thibault stated that the most seriously injured person's condition remains unstable and life-threatening. Nasobina, who lives in London and co-founded a private club for Ukrainian and Russian artists, is also a director of a British company. While initial reports identified Ana Yermolayeva as the injured partner, she later confirmed she was not among the victims. Nasobina's identity has not been officially confirmed, but acquaintances have not denied her severe injuries.

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This has shocked us all because Monaco should be one of the safest places in the world. If the war from Ukraine is coming here, it's not good, but I think this is an isolated incident.

Yermolayev is receiving treatment in Nice, while their son suffered minor injuries and was interviewed as a witness. The attack has unsettled Monaco's residents, who consider it one of the world's safest places. "This has shocked us all because Monaco should be one of the safest places in the world. If the war from Ukraine is coming here, it's not good, but I think this is an isolated incident," said a neighbor named Louise.

French newspaper Le Figaro suggests investigators are considering the possibility that the Ukrainian security service is behind the attack, though there is no official confirmation. Yermolayev himself has been under Ukrainian sanctions since 2023 for alleged business activities in Russian-occupied Crimea and paying taxes to Russia, accusations he denies while publicly condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Speculation also exists about potential links to other cases, including an incident involving his son Artu last year.

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The condition of the most seriously injured person has not yet stabilized, and her life remains threatened.