The investigation into the targeted attack on June 29 reached another significant stage on Thursday as two men accused of murdering prime suspect Anastasiia Berezovska appeared before a Ukrainian court, where prosecutors disclosed new details of her alleged execution…
According to proceedings reported by Ukrainska Pravda, prosecutors allege that 50-year-old Vitalii Zhykovych recruited 34-year-old Vladyslav Reut to kill Berezovska after she returned to Ukraine. The court heard that the pair collected her in a black BMW on July 3 before driving to a wooded area near the village of Yuriv, outside Kyiv.
Prosecutors allege Zhykovych prepared the firearm during the journey before Reut approached Berezovska from behind and shot her at least twice in the back of the head. Her body was then buried nearby and the murder weapon was allegedly thrown into a body of water.
However, during the hearing Reut disputed that account, claiming it was Zhykovych who fired four shots before ordering him to dig a grave. Reut told the court he feared he would also be killed and said Zhykovych searched Berezovska’s body, taking her mobile phones, wallet, watch and other personal belongings before they buried her.
The pair remain in custody while prosecutors seek to hold them without bail. Ukrainian investigators continue to examine whether the suspects were also involved in the Monaco bombing after discovering they had allegedly transferred money to Berezovska through bank accounts and cryptocurrency before the June 29 attack.
Meanwhile, Monegasque investigators continue to work with their Ukrainian counterparts as they seek to identify those who planned and ordered the attempted assassination of Vadim Ermolaev and his family.
Image: Screenshot of online court appearance courtesy of pravada.com