A manhunt is underway in southern France after a parcel bomb detonated in a Monaco apartment, severely injuring Ukrainian billionaire Vadym Yermolaiev, his wife and 13‑year‑old son.
Yermolaiev, a former Ukrainian citizen turned Cypriot, has been under Kyiv sanctions since 2023 for opaque dealings in Crimea and is a top‑rank 39th richest Ukrainian according to Forbes.
The blast struck an apartment block on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, just a few metres from the French border, and authorities say it was a parcel bomb that exploded in the lobby shortly before 21:00 local time.
Video footage shows a man carrying a backpack drop it in the lobby before the explosion and then fleeing on foot toward the French commune of Beausoleil, prompting a major police effort to locate him.
Monaco’s Prince Albert II described the incident as a heinous crime and a shock to the community, while government officials announced that all state services are mobilised in coordination with French authorities.
More than 100 police, emergency personnel and a helicopter were deployed to the scene, and local residents report hearing a loud explosion and seeing emergency services dragging injured civilians from the building.
The case marks the first such attack in Monaco’s history and has drawn international attention due to the high‑profile nature of its target.
