Ukrainian Security Forces Search Intelligence Official's Home in Monaco Case
The Security Service of Ukraine conducted a search in Kyiv on November 6 as part of an ongoing inquiry into the June 29 assassination attempt on a sanctioned businessman in Monaco.
By Oliver Bennett ·
The investigation into the June 29 attack on Vadym Yermolaiev in Monaco has expanded to include domestic searches of Ukrainian intelligence personnel. On the morning of November 6, security officers entered the premises of a Defence Intelligence of Ukraine employee in Kyiv. This action follows a summer probe that has raised questions about the involvement of Ukrainian state agencies in the attempted assassination.
Lawyer Masi Nayyem represented the serviceman and documented the entry. He stated that Security Service of Ukraine officers broke down the door and forced his client to the ground before handcuffing him. Nayyem claimed the search proceeded without a court warrant and without the presence of Defence Intelligence internal security representatives, a procedural step he said was legally required. The SSU confirmed the investigative activity but did not respond to the specific allegations regarding the search procedure or the treatment of the client.
The Security Service of Ukraine told Ukrainska Pravda that it and the National Police are conducting measures under the supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office. The stated goal is to ensure a thorough and impartial review of the events in Monaco. Authorities have withheld further details to preserve the integrity of the ongoing inquiry.
The original incident occurred at approximately 21:00 on 29 June in Monaco. Yermolaiev, a sanctioned businessman, and members of his family were targeted. Investigators in Monaco have considered the possible involvement of the SSU in the attack. Yermolaiev has publicly accused Ukrainian intelligence of orchestrating the attempt and has sought guarantees of protection for himself and his family.
On 3 July, Interpol issued an international wanted notice for Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian citizen. Monaco law enforcement suspected her of planting the explosive device that injured Yermolaiev and his family. On 7 July, authorities discovered Berezovska murdered and buried near Kyiv. That same day, Ukrainian officials announced the arrest of two men suspected of her killing.
Investigators identified the two arrested individuals as Vladyslav Reut, a Defence Intelligence employee, and Vitalii Zhykovych, a former SSU employee. They allegedly murdered Berezovska near Yuriv in Kyiv Oblast on 3 July. Evidence of repeated transfers to Berezovska's cryptocurrency wallets and bank accounts linked the men to the Monaco attack. Sources close to the investigation described Reut and Zhykovych as the organizers and handlers of the operation. Kyiv's Pecherskyi District Court ordered both men held without bail on 9 July.
The current search of the Defence Intelligence employee's home adds a new layer to the domestic proceedings. The SSU and National Police continue their work in Kyiv while the broader international coordination remains active. The outcome of the search will determine the next steps in the Ukrainian portion of the inquiry.
