A parcel bomb exploded at a residential building in Monaco, seriously injuring Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev, his partner, and their 13-year-old son.
The blast happened shortly before 9:00 p.m. local time on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, close to Monaco’s border with France. Authorities said the explosion was caused by a parcel bomb containing bolts and metal pellets.
According to investigators, surveillance footage shows a man leaving a backpack in the building’s lobby before the explosion. The suspect was later seen fleeing towards France on foot. More than 100 police officers and emergency responders were deployed to the scene.
Monaco’s Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, described the incident as a deliberate attack and confirmed that an investigation is underway. The victims were transferred to a hospital in the nearby French city of Nice, where the parents remain in critical condition.
Prince Albert II of Monaco condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous crime” and saying all state services had been mobilised in cooperation with French authorities.
Vadym Yermolaiev is a Ukrainian real estate developer who has lived outside Ukraine for several years. He was placed under Ukrainian sanctions in December 2023.
Authorities in Monaco and France are continuing investigations to identify and arrest the suspect behind the bombing.
