Key facts
- Ukrainian intelligence agent Vladyslav Reut has changed his story regarding the murder of Anastasiia Berezovska.
- Reut initially confessed to killing Berezovska, who was suspected of a bombing attempt in Monaco.
- In court, Reut denied pulling the trigger and blamed his alleged accomplice, Vitalii Zhykovych.
- Both Reut and Zhykovych are charged with premeditated murder.
- The motive for the Monaco blast targeting businessman Vadim Yermolayev remains unclear.
A Ukrainian intelligence agent, Vladyslav Reut, has altered his account of the murder of Anastasiia Berezovska, the woman suspected of attempting to assassinate businessman Vadim Yermolayev in Monaco. Reut, initially confessing to the killing and leading investigators to Berezovska's grave, now claims he did not pull the trigger and blames his alleged accomplice, Vitalii Zhykovych, a former officer of Ukraine's SBU security service.
In court in Kyiv, Reut stated he would never intentionally murder an innocent civilian, emphasizing his service defending Ukraine. He now alleges that Zhykovych produced a firearm and shot Berezovska four times after they picked her up, claiming Zhykovych threatened his relatives if he did not comply. Zhykovych's lawyer, Anatoliy Ivanov, dismissed Reut's new testimony, characterizing his client as a patriot and questioning the credibility of a serving intelligence officer being ordered by a civilian.
Both Reut and Zhykovych face charges of premeditated murder, with prosecutors stating they acted jointly. The motive behind the Monaco blast targeting Yermolayev, who made his fortune in cognac and real estate and had been sanctioned by Kyiv for business dealings in Crimea, remains unclear. Investigators are considering various theories, including corruption, organized crime, and a potential "Russian trail" suggested by Zhykovych's lawyer, though no evidence has been presented. President Zelensky has indicated that further information will be disclosed in the coming days. Both suspects have been remanded in custody.