In a Kyiv court, Vladyslav Reut, an officer of Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence, withdrew his earlier confession to the murder of Anastasiia Berezovska, the prime suspect in the 29 June bombing in Monaco that severely wounded Ukrainian-born businessman Vadym Yermolaiev. Reut told the judge he “categorically denies” pulling the trigger and instead accused co-defendant Vitalii Zhykovych, a former SBU official, of shooting Berezovska four times in a forest near the village of Yuriv. Both men remain in pre-trial detention on charges of premeditated murder.

Reut’s new account, as reported by the BBC and other outlets, describes being ordered by Zhykovych to shoot the woman with a modified pistol, refusing, and then being forced to help bury the body. He claimed his initial confession was made under duress, citing threats against his family. Zhykovych’s defence rejected the version as an attempt to shift blame, while the prosecution maintained that the two acted “jointly and in a coordinated manner.” Ukrainian investigators have not yet established a definitive motive for the killing or for the Monaco attack, though they say all lines of inquiry remain open, including criminal, corruption-related, or possible Russian involvement.

The case has drawn scrutiny from multiple governments. Berezovska, 39, was the subject of an Interpol red notice after a remotely detonated parcel bomb at Yermolaiev’s Monaco residence left his partner with both legs amputated and injured the businessman and their son. She fled on foot to France and then by car through several European countries before returning to Ukraine, where she was found shot dead on 3 July. Yermolaiev, a Cypriot citizen of Ukrainian origin, was sanctioned by Kyiv in 2023 for allegedly continuing business activities in Russian-annexed Crimea, a charge he denies. According to the Jerusalem Post, he is an active member of the Dnipro Jewish community. The attack’s timing and target have prompted speculation in Western European diplomatic circles about possible state-linked motives, though no evidence has been presented publicly.

Monaco’s prosecutor general, Stéphane Thibault, held a video call with his Ukrainian counterpart, Ruslan Kravchenko, on Friday to exchange information. Kravchenko has proposed forming a joint investigative team, stating that Ukraine is “open to full cooperation.” French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to ensure a thorough investigation, according to the Tages-Anzeiger, underscoring the case’s diplomatic implications. The Kyiv court has ordered both suspects held without bail. The next procedural hearing is expected in the coming weeks, while Monaco authorities continue to pursue leads on who may have ordered the bombing.