One month after the targeted bombing that seriously injured Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev and his family in Monaco, the investigation appears to have slowed as key elements of the case are now being pursued by the Ukrainian authorities…
Fresh allegations have now emerged from Russia, although they remain entirely unverified. Speaking to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, former Ukrainian intelligence officer Vasily Prozorov claimed the attack was ordered by Oleksandr Poklad, the recently appointed head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU). Prozorov, who defected to Russia in 2019, alleged that those responsible for carrying out the operation acted under Poklad’s direction.
No evidence has been made public to support the claims, and neither the Ukrainian authorities nor investigators in Monaco have commented on the allegations.
The June 29 attack, in which an explosive device detonated as Ermolaev, his partner and his teenage son entered the lobby of their Monaco residence, is widely regarded as a targeted assassination attempt. While several suspects have reportedly been identified or arrested in Ukraine, the investigation has made little visible progress in recent weeks from Monaco’s perspective.
With the inquiry increasingly dependent on international cooperation, questions remain over who ordered the attack and whether those responsible will ultimately face justice.