Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev has been named as one of the victims of Monday evening’s explosion in Monaco, after a source close to the investigation confirmed his identity to AFP, as reported by France 24.
Ermolaev, his partner and their 13-year-old son were injured when a backpack bomb detonated in the foyer of the Sun’s Palace apartment block on the rue Révérend-Père-Louis-Frolla at around 9pm. The two adults remain in a critical condition. The teenager was taken to the Lenval Hospital in Nice with less serious injuries.
The device contained bolts and metal pellets. A man seen on CCTV placing a bag in the building’s entrance hall before the blast fled on foot towards Beausoleil. He remains at large. French and Monégasque authorities are cooperating in the search. Monaco has activated its red plan emergency protocol.
Ermolaev was formerly one of Ukraine’s 100 richest people and the founder of the Alef conglomerate. He renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019, becoming a Cypriot national. President Zelensky imposed sanctions against him in 2023.
Minister of State Christophe Mirmand described the explosion as “in all likelihood an attack” and said it was the first such act in the Principality’s history to his knowledge. Prosecutor general Stéphane Thibault said nothing currently indicates why the building was targeted.
News.mc will continue to follow this story as it develops.