Vitalii Zhykovych makes shocking claim about involvement in Monaco bomb attack

A former Ukrainian security services officer has made a shocking claim about his involvement in a bomb attack on a millionaire and his family in Monaco last June.

Vitalii Zhykovych, who describes himself as a "freelancer for Ukraine's SBU security service, says he believed the attempted assassination was ordered by senior members of HUR, Ukraine's military intelligence agency. He spoke to the BBC from prison in Kyiv, where he is being held on charges related to the murder of Anastasia Berezovska.

Zhykovych claims that Berezovska, a woman caught on camera planting the bomb in Monaco, was his agent. However, her body was discovered just over a week after the bombing, with gunshot wounds to the head.

The attack on Ukrainian-born businessman Vadym Yermolayev and his family left them severely injured - Yermolayev's partner suffered catastrophic injuries while he and their 13-year-old son were badly hurt.

The incident has raised questions about the involvement of Ukraine's security services in the attempted assassination, with Zhykovych's claims pointing to a potential link between HUR and the bombing.

Zhykovych's testimony suggests that Reut had proposed the operation against Vadym Yermolayev in Monaco, referring to it as an official mission authorised by his superiors at HUR, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence.

According to Zhykovych, Reut informed him that he had been given permission from his superiors to carry out the operation, which implies a level of involvement from HUR in the attempted assassination. It is unclear what role Zhykovych's own position played in this alleged approval process.

In an attempt to distance himself from the explosion, Zhykovych claims that Reut asked him to use Berezovska for reconnaissance instead of the bombing itself, after he refused due to concerns over her training. However, Zhykovych alleges that Reut then went on to provide Berezovska with explosives without his involvement.

Zhykovych also states that Reut communicated directly with Berezovska regarding the operation, bypassing him entirely in the process. This suggests a significant level of autonomy given to Reut by HUR, and raises further questions about the agency's involvement in the attempted assassination.

The SBU has described Zhykovych as a former law enforcement officer, but it is unclear what his exact role was or how he became involved with HUR and Reut. The BBC has asked HUR to comment on these latest claims, but so far there has been no response from the agency.

The investigation into the bombing that killed Yermolayev has revealed some shocking details about the attack's aftermath. According to sources close to the inquiry, it appears that Berezovska was caught off guard by the bomb's force, which detonated just as she and her companions got close to their target.

Yermolayev himself believes that serving officers linked to HUR's leadership were involved in the attack. He has called for truth, protection, and justice in connection with the case. This statement is significant given the controversy surrounding Yermolayev's past and his current status as a Ukrainian citizen.

Berezovska was identified as the suspected bomber after CCTV footage was released by Interpol on July 2nd. However, she had already fled Ukraine, initially driving through Italy and Germany before boarding a bus from Frankfurt to Ukraine. Her escape route suggests that she may have had some inside help or prior planning in place.

As the investigation continues, speculation is mounting about who might have wanted Yermolayev dead and why. Some theories suggest it could be linked to organized crime groups involved in scam call-centres in Ukraine. The case has also raised questions about whether this was a state-ordered assassination attempt, a rogue operation, or some form of criminal score-settling.

The businessman's own theories on the matter have been met with skepticism by many, given his complex past and current citizenship status. His son, Artur, was convicted earlier this year in Estonia for defrauding citizens through scam call-centres known as offisy in Ukraine.

Vadym Yermolayev had previously denied any involvement in the case, telling the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper that he was not connected to it.

However, a new theory has emerged from an unexpected source: Zhykovych, who is currently behind bars for his alleged role in the murder of businessman Berezovska.

According to Zhykovych, Reut had told him that the bombing in Monaco was intended as retaliation against Yermolayev's business dealings with Russia. Specifically, Zhykovych claims that Reut said Yermolayev was funding the annexation of Crimea by paying taxes from his businesses there.

Zhykovych believes this gives grounds for the operation to take place, and has shared this information with us from prison.

The suspect linked to the Monaco bomb attack on a millionaire has been found dead in Ukraine, according to reports from investigators.

Zhykovych claims that Berezovska had been leading a double life while living in Germany with her young son, whom she brought there as a refugee in early 2022. She allegedly worked secretly with Zhykovych as an agent against Muscovy", referring to Russia.

Details have emerged about the suspect's alleged motives and interactions with Zhykovych. The pair reportedly met online, and Berezovska supposedly called him after the attack, explaining that she had been promised a substantial sum of $50,000 by Reut for her involvement.

The husband of the suspected woman has dismissed allegations of wrongdoing, suggesting instead that she was unwittingly drawn into the affair and later killed while attempting to collect the promised reward in Ukraine.