Suspect alleges Kyiv sanctioned June bomb attack in Monaco

Vitalii Zhykovych, a former officer with Ukraine's security services, has made fresh allegations about the explosion that rocked Monaco in June, in which businessman Vadym Yermolayev was the apparent target. Speaking from a prison in Kyiv, where he is being held in connection with the case, Zhykovych claimed senior figures within Ukraine's military intelligence service authorised the operation.

The blast caused significant damage and alarm in the Principality, prompting an extensive investigation by Monegasque authorities working alongside international partners. Monaco rarely sees attacks of this nature, and the case has drawn scrutiny from residents and property owners concerned about security in a jurisdiction that trades heavily on its reputation for safety.

Zhykovych's claims, made during an interview reported by the BBC, add a new and politically sensitive dimension to a case that already touched on Ukraine's wartime intelligence operations reaching into Western Europe. No official response has yet come from Kyiv confirming or denying the allegations, and Monaco's own investigation into the attack remains ongoing.