Who Is Anastasiia Berezovska? Ukrainian Woman Wanted in Monaco Bombing Explained

A 39-year-old Ukrainian woman has been named as the main suspect in a rare bomb attack in Monaco that wounded Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev and several others earlier this week.

The woman, identified in an Interpol Red Notice as Anastasiia Berezovska, is accused by local authorities of disguising herself as a man before fleeing Monaco after the blast. Prosecutors say she first crossed into neighboring France and then traveled to Italy in a German-registered rental car allegedly used in the operation.

The attack, which Monaco’s prosecutor Stéphane Thibault has described as an “attempted assassination,” has shocked the tiny city-state, where violent crime is extremely rare and public spaces are heavily monitored by police and CCTV cameras.

Who Is Anastasiia Berezovska?

Anastasiia Berezovska is a 39-year-old Ukrainian national who was last known to be living in Germany, according to an Interpol Red Notice.

Authorities say she has a distinctive tattoo, possibly of a snake, running down her right arm from her shoulder to her elbow. Beyond those identifying details, little has been publicly released about her personal background, profession, or possible connection to the alleged plot.

Berezovska is now at the center of an international manhunt as investigators try to determine who carried out the bombing and why.

Why Is Anastasiia Berezovska Wanted?

Monaco authorities believe Berezovska is the main suspect in Monday’s bombing at the entrance of a luxury apartment building in the principality.

The blast reportedly targeted Ukrainian-born businessman Vadym Yermolaiev, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV. Yermolaiev, a woman and a child were injured in the explosion, Monegasque authorities previously said, identifying the victims only as members of a “family of Ukrainian origin.”

Prosecutors have not publicly confirmed a motive, but they have said the attack appeared to be carefully planned. They also believe the explosive device was sophisticated enough to suggest that more than one person may have been involved.

“The sophistication of the bomb used indicates that more than one perpetrator was involved,” prosecutors said.

Why Was the Suspect Initially Thought To Be a Man?

Soon after the attack, BFMTV published an image of a person believed to be fleeing the scene. The person was wearing a black jumper, light-colored trousers and a black bucket hat, with hair apparently tucked underneath.

Media outlets initially described the figure as a man. Authorities now say the person in the image was Berezovska, who allegedly disguised herself as a man while escaping after the bombing. That detail has made the case even more unusual and has become one of the key developments in the investigation.

How Did She Allegedly Escape Monaco?

According to prosecutors, Berezovska fled Monaco after the explosion and crossed into France. She then allegedly drove to Italy in a German-registered car that had been rented for the operation. Her current whereabouts remain unknown.

Interpol has issued a Red Notice for Berezovska, requesting that law enforcement agencies worldwide assist in locating and provisionally detaining her pending possible extradition or other legal proceedings.

Did She Act Alone?

Investigators do not believe the bombing was necessarily the work of one person. Prosecutors said the complexity of the explosive device suggests that others may have helped plan or carry out the attack. Two men were arrested in Monaco during the investigation but were later released for lack of evidence. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional suspects.

Who Was Targeted in the Monaco Bombing?

The reported target of the attack was Vadym Yermolaiev, a Ukrainian-born businessman. Yermolaiev was injured in the blast along with a woman and a child. The woman’s identity has not been officially released, but Yermolaiev’s wife told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne that she was not at the residence when the explosion happened and was not injured.

On Friday, prosecutors said one victim remained in life-threatening condition, another was seriously injured, and a third suffered minor injuries. Two other people outside the building were also hurt by flying glass.

Why Has the Attack Shocked Monaco?

The bombing has stunned Monaco because attacks of this kind are almost unheard of in the wealthy Mediterranean principality.

Monaco is smaller than New York City’s Central Park but has 556 police officers and 1,387 CCTV cameras monitoring its streets. Authorities said there were no homicides or attempted murders recorded there last year.

That is why the bombing has raised serious questions about how such a planned attack could happen in one of Europe’s most closely watched places. Thibault has described the case as the first recorded bomb assassination attempt in Monaco.

What Happens Next?

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not publicly identified a motive. Police are continuing to search for Berezovska while also examining whether other people helped organize the attack. With Interpol now involved, the case has expanded beyond Monaco into a wider European manhunt. For now, Berezovska remains the key figure in a case that has shaken Monaco’s image as one of the safest and most secure places in Europe.