In brief
An 39‑year‑old Ukrainian woman, Anastasiia Berezovska, who was accused of planting a parcel bomb at a Monaco apartment that injured a Ukrainian multi‑millionaire, was found dead in Ukraine with gunshot wounds to the head. Ukrainian authorities say a cross‑border manhunt was launched after the blast on 29 June, and two men – one a defence ministry officer – have been detained on murder suspicion. The case has drawn attention to security gaps along the Ukraine‑Monaco route and raised questions about how such incidents are handled by international agencies. Interpol had issued a red alert for the suspect, and the death prompts a review of the investigation’s scope and collaboration between European law‑enforcement bodies.
The Ukrainian security service (SBU) announced that Anastasiia Berezovska, the 39‑year‑old woman named in the Monaco parcel‑bomb incident, had been found dead in Ukraine with a gunshot wound to the head. The fatalities function as a new chapter in a case that began with a blast in the entrance hall of an apartment building on 29 June, which injured a sanctioned Ukrainian multimillionaire and his family.
Investigators said the suspect fled the city‑state after planting the bomb and that a cross‑border search had been initiated. Two men, including a current officer within the Ministry of Defence, were detained on suspicion of murder. The SBU stated that the body was recovered in Ukraine, though details on the exact circumstances remain pending.
Interpol issued a red alert for Berezovska, requesting her location and arrest. The brief alert noted that she may have manipulated safety protocols to carry out the attack and emphasized her significance as a suspect in a transnational crime that connected Monaco, Ukraine and international security agencies.
Experts point to a lack of coordinated controls on the movement of parcels and goods across borders as a potential factor that could allow such attacks. Between Monaco and Ukraine, surveillance typically involves national police and customs, but the incident underscores the need for tighter data sharing and joint operational frameworks.
The death of the suspect raises further questions about how investigations will proceed, particularly concerning whether the motive behind the bombing — a possible attempt on a high‑profile individual — can be fully clarified with Berezovska no longer alive. It also prompts a reevaluation of how defence ministry officials might be involved in domestic law‑enforcement cases.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities confirm that investigations continue, and the case is expected to be forwarded to international prosecutors where appropriate. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the cross‑border nature of modern security threats.
