One of Ukraine’s richest man and his family was targetted by “unknown assailants” who placed a shrapnel-filled backpack bomb which exploded at a luxury apartment in Monaco. Vadim Ermolaev, who was a “VIP refugee” in Monaco after fleeing Ukraine after the Russian war, is said to be in a serious condition. His wife is said to have lost both feet, while the couple’s 13-year-old son was not seriously injured.
The blast was caused by a backpack filled with explosives which was placed in the luxury building’s lobby on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, near the French border. Reports claim the bag was full of nuts and bolts.
According to sources close to French Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, a police operation has been launched to find the perpetrator. CCTV footage showed an individual placing a rucksack in front of the building’s entrance. The man is then seen fleeing on foot towards the neighbouring town of Beausoleil as the device detonated.
Monaco authorities stated that the blast was caused by a malicious act and it is highly likely that this was an attack. Christophe Mirmand, Monaco's Minister of State, earlier said the detonation was a 'deliberate explosion'. “The three victims were in the building's entrance when the device exploded. It is presumed that they belonged to the same family,” he added.
Who is Vadim Ermolaev?
Currently residing in Monaco, Ermolaev is one of the richest men in Ukraine. The oligarch made his fortune as a real estate developer in Dnipro, central Ukraine, before leaving the country with his family after the start of the war.
In 2021, Ermolaev ranked 45th on Forbes Ukraine richest list .
He came under sanctions from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Ermolaev decided to continue his alcohol trading activities in Crimea, a territory under Russian occupation. Ermolaev became a citizen of Cyprus in 2019, and in December 2023 Ukraine imposed sanctions on him, including asset restrictions. He also faced charges, including money laundering, in Ukraine.
In recent years, the family has been living in absolute luxury in Monte Carlo, where they had a very high profile.
