The Principality of Monaco plunges into the nightmare of terrorism for the first time in its recent history. A powerful explosion ripped through the lobby of an elegant residential building last night, located between Boulevard d’Italie and Rue du Révérend Père Louis Frolla, close to the French border. The target of the raid, which local authorities unequivocally describe as “an intentional act, very likely a bombing,” was Vadim Ermolaev, a Ukrainian multimillionaire and oligarch, long resident in Monte Carlo.
The toll is heavy: Ermolaev and his wife are now hospitalised in critical condition and their prognosis is uncertain. The couple's son, a 13-year-old boy, was also injured but, fortunately, is not in mortal danger.
The dynamic: the explosive in the rucksack and the cameras
Hell broke out around 9:00 PM. According to investigators' reconstruction and confirmed by the Attorney General, Stéphane Thibault, the attacker struck by blending in with passers-by. Surveillance cameras at the building captured an individual depositing a backpack (or a bomb package) right in front of the hall entrance, before fleeing on foot towards the nearby French commune of Beausoleil.
Moments later, the device was detonated. Inside the rucksack, whoever packed the bomb had included bolts and metal pellets, a technique designed to maximise its lethal effect and injure as many people as possible. The explosion struck the Ermolaev family directly as they were entering the building.
“To my knowledge, this is the first time in history that such an act has occurred in the Principality,” stated Christophe Mirmand, Minister of State and head of the Monegasque government.
The victim's profile: the “VIP refugee” sanctioned by Kyiv
Investigations are focusing on the profile of Vadim Ermolaev, considered a sort of “VIP refugee” in Monaco since the early months of the conflict in Ukraine. A magnate very active in the construction sector, Ermolaev carries a controversial past with him: in December 2023, he had in fact been blacklisted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to various international news outlets and Kiev's security services, the entrepreneur allegedly continued to manage and profit from his alcohol trading activities in Crimea, Ukrainian territory under Russian occupation. It remains to be understood whether the motive for the attack is linked to political revenge, Ukrainian sanctions, or settling scores related to the world of geopolitical business.
Prince Albert: “A shock to the community”
The serious crime has shaken the foundations of the Principality, historically considered one of the safest havens in the world. Prince Albert II of Monaco intervened harshly with an official statement:
“This is a heinous crime, a shock to the entire Monégasque community. The Principality will remain united and determined in the face of violence and crime. The security of our community has always been a priority; it will remain so more than ever, whatever the threats.
Manhunt and international cooperation
While the forensic team examines the debris in the hall, law enforcement has locked down the Principality and surrounding areas. Massive police checkpoints have been set up at the La Turbie motorway toll booth, a crucial junction for cross-border transit.
The investigation immediately took on an international character: sources close to the French Ministry of the Interior confirmed to Le Figaro that rescue teams and the French police are already assisting their Monegasque colleagues. Close cross-border cooperation has been initiated to intercept the fleeing attacker, who may have already crossed the border. Further details on the investigation and a description of the suspect will be released by Attorney General Thibault at a press conference scheduled for the coming hours.
