Monaco Explosion Injures Ukrainian Businessman and Family; Terrorism Ruled Out

Monaco was shaken by a powerful explosion Monday evening when a package bomb detonated in the lobby of a luxury residential building near the French border. The blast injured three members of the same family, prompting a massive security response in the principality, known for its safety and low crime rates.

The explosion occurred shortly before 9 p.m. on a street bordering France. Authorities reported that an unknown perpetrator placed a bag containing an explosive device in the building before fleeing towards the French town of Beausoleil. Security cameras captured the suspect's movements, leading to close cooperation between Monaco's police and French security services in the investigation.

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A man alone, whose identification is underway, presented himself at the address and deposited a package, shortly before the three occupants of the apartment arrived in turn at the door (...) The package exploded at the precise moment these three people arrived.

Initial findings indicate the device was packed with metal screws and shrapnel, suggesting an intent to cause severe harm. The blast shattered windows in nearby buildings, and emergency services treated four additional people for shock and minor injuries. Approximately 50 firefighters and 80 security personnel responded to the scene, with the area secured by roadblocks and helicopter surveillance.

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the vital prognosis for the man - Vadim Ermolaev, according to our information - is no longer engaged, unlike that of his wife, who is still in critical condition.

The most seriously injured were identified by French media and sources close to the investigation as Vadim Iermolayev, a wealthy Ukrainian businessman, his wife Anna, and their 13-year-old child, who sustained minor injuries. The parents are receiving hospital treatment in Nice, while the child remains in Monaco.

Iermolayev, formerly one of Ukraine's richest entrepreneurs and a major real estate developer from Dnipro, renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019 for Cypriot citizenship, citing a desire for greater international legal protection. He reportedly moved to Monaco in 2022. Despite his business background, the motive behind the attack remains unknown, and authorities have not officially confirmed if the family was the direct target. This incident marks a rare and alarming breach of security in the typically tranquil principality.

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it is not a terrorist attack.