Anna Yermolaiev, wife of Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev, has clarified that she was not the woman who sustained severe injuries, including leg amputations, in a recent bomb attack in Monaco. The explosion, which occurred Monday evening at the entrance of a residential building, left Vadym Yermolaiev in critical condition.
Initial reports suggested Anna Yermolaiev was also gravely injured. However, Ukrainian media outlets have since reported that another woman, whose identity has not been released, was the victim of the blast. This woman and her 13-year-old son were transported to a hospital in Nice, France. The son's condition is reported as stable, while the mother's remains life-threatening.
Ms. Yermolaiev confirmed to the Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne that she was in a different location at the time of the incident and is cooperating with law enforcement. The couple's youngest child is reportedly nearing 17 years old, suggesting the injured 13-year-old is not their son. French newspaper Le Figaro cited a source indicating the mother may have been injured while shielding her son from the blast.
The attack is being investigated as attempted murder, though authorities have stated it is not considered a terrorist act. Ukrainian police sources suggest a link between the bombing and a network of fraudulent call centers in Dnipro, Ukraine, allegedly involved in large-scale financial scams across Europe. These operations are suspected of defrauding thousands of investors of over €100 million through fake cryptocurrency schemes and fraudulent divorce advice between 2019 and 2022.
Investigators believe the assassination attempt may have been orchestrated by members of a criminal network in retaliation. The Yermolaiev family has been implicated in the scheme, with Vadym Yermolaiev reportedly at the center of a pan-European investigation into clandestine call centers operating from Ukraine. Vadym Yermolaiev is currently subject to sanctions in Ukraine due to his business activities in Russian-occupied Crimea.
Monaco's Minister of State Christophe Mirmand stated that intelligence services are working to understand the victims' backgrounds and assess any potential threats. Surveillance footage shows a man wearing a black fisherman's hat fleeing the scene towards Beausoleil, France. This individual is currently being sought by authorities.
Vadym Yermolaiev, who made his fortune after the collapse of the Soviet Union, has faced scrutiny for his business dealings, including co-ownership of Versobank, an Estonian bank whose license was suspended in 2018 for violations of anti-money laundering legislation. The family has been living in Monaco, a principality known as a tax haven attracting high-net-worth individuals. The explosion has reportedly shocked the community, with Prince Albert II of Monaco condemning the act and pledging security measures.