Key facts
- Vitalii Zhykovych, a former Ukrainian security services officer, claims HUR ordered a bomb attack in Monaco.
- The attack targeted Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolayev and his family.
- Zhykovych alleges HUR officer Vladyslav Reut proposed the operation and provided explosives.
- Zhykovych claims his agent, Anastasia Berezovska, was used for the bombing and later killed.
- Berezovska was found dead with gunshot wounds after fleeing Ukraine.
- Yermolayev believes serving HUR officers were linked to the attack.
Vitalii Zhykovych, a former Ukrainian security services officer, has broken his silence from a Kyiv prison to claim that a bomb attack in Monaco targeting businessman Vadym Yermolayev was ordered by senior members of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR).
In an interview with the BBC, Zhykovych stated that he believed the operation was proposed by Vladyslav Reut, an active-duty HUR officer, who he referred to as "The Boss." Zhykovych alleges that Reut informed him the mission was authorized by Reut's superiors within HUR.
The bombing on June 12 injured Yermolayev and his 13-year-old son, while his partner sustained catastrophic injuries. Zhykovych described Anastasia Berezovska, the woman caught on camera planting the bomb, as his "agent." He claims Reut asked to use her for the bombing and, after Zhykovych expressed reservations about her training, Reut agreed to send her for reconnaissance instead. Zhykovych further alleges that Reut communicated directly with Berezovska without his involvement and provided her with the explosives.
Berezovska's body was discovered a week after the attack with gunshot wounds. Both Zhykovych and Reut have accused each other of her murder. Reut initially confessed to investigators but later changed his testimony in court to blame Zhykovych.
Zhykovych also put forward a theory that the bombing was retaliation for Yermolayev allegedly "funding the annexation of Crimea," a claim Yermolayev has denied. However, in a separate statement during a custody hearing, Zhykovych suggested the target might have been ordered by "someone from the civilian side" and that the attack was not authorized by HUR.
The BBC reported that HUR has previously stated its commitment to a full investigation and providing support to law enforcement. The SBU described Zhykovych as a "former law enforcement officer."