Monaco blast: ex-Ukrainian spy accuses new SBU chief of ordering hit
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
A former Ukrainian intelligence officer who defected to Russia has alleged that the newly appointed head of the SBU ordered the attack targeting Vadim Ermolaev in Monaco.
A former Ukrainian intelligence officer, Vassili Prozorov, has publicly accused the new chief of Ukraine's Security Service, the SBU, of ordering the explosion that targeted Vadim Ermolaev on Monegasque soil. Prozorov, who defected to Russia and has since acted as a vocal critic of Kyiv's intelligence apparatus, made the allegation in an interview with Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
The claim adds a significant new dimension to an attack that has already placed Monaco at the centre of an international security incident. Ermolaev, a figure with reported connections to Russian business interests, was the apparent target of the blast, the details of which have drawn scrutiny from Monegasque authorities.
Prozorov's account carries obvious caveats. His defection to Russia and his platform of choice make him a deeply partial witness, and his accusations serve clear geopolitical interests. Monegasque police have given no public indication that they have corroborated his version of events. The Direction de la Sûreté Publique has not commented on the alleged origin of the attack.
For Monaco residents and the property community, the incident raises broader questions about the Principality's position as a safe haven for high-net-worth individuals with ties to conflict zones. Security along the Riviera has been a recurring concern since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, and an unresolved high-profile attack in the heart of the Principality is unlikely to go unnoticed by those considering their long-term presence here.