Ukrainian Agent Recants Confession in Monaco Bomb Suspect Case
Ukrainian agent accused of murdering Monaco – Kyiv’s courtroom was shrouded in secrecy on Thursday as Vladyslav Reut, a decorated GUR intelligence officer, stood accused of killing Anastasiia Berezovska. The woman had been linked to a deadly attack targeting Vadym Yermolayev, a wealthy businessman in Monaco, just days prior. However, Reut now insists he did not fire the fatal shots, shifting the blame to his co-defendant, Vitalii Zhykovych.
Shifting Allegiances in a High-Stakes Trial
During a custody hearing, Reut claimed he “categorically denied” involvement in Berezovska’s murder, asserting that Zhykovych had orchestrated the act. The 34-year-old agent described a tense scenario where his alleged accomplice, a former SBU officer, compelled him to act under threat. “He said, ‘If anything happens to me, your relatives are in danger’,” Reut claimed, highlighting the alleged pressure.
The case has drawn international scrutiny due to Reut’s prominent status within Ukraine’s military intelligence agency and Zhykovych’s recent ties to the SBU. Berezovska, 39, was identified as the prime suspect in the Monaco attack, which targeted Yermolayev—a man who had renounced his Ukrainian citizenship years earlier. His business ventures in Crimea, now under Russian control, had led Kyiv to sanction him.
Reut initially confessed to shooting Berezovska, leading investigators to her body in a forest west of Kyiv. Yet, his testimony quickly evolved. He alleged that Zhykovych had modified a Makarov pistol and insisted it was a precaution to “prevent her from panicking.” According to Reut, the pair then drove to Yuriv village, where Zhykovych ordered the killing. “It’s either her or us,” he stated, framing the act as a desperate choice.
Investigation and Contradictions
The prosecution argues that both men acted “jointly and in a coordinated fashion,” charging them with premeditated murder. Berezovska’s phone records and financial transactions with the pair were key evidence in linking them to the crime. However, Zhykovych’s lawyer, Anatoliy Ivanov, dismissed the revised narrative, calling Reut’s account “implausible.”
“He does not want to be imprisoned. I understand,” Ivanov remarked, while insisting his client “did not kill.” The lawyer painted Zhykovych as a patriot who had fought in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and later “actively defended” Kyiv during the Russian invasion. He questioned whether a civilian could have ordered a GUR agent to commit murder.
Meanwhile, the president, Volodymyr Zelensky, hinted at “additional relevant reports” to be shared soon. The trial’s drama underscores the complexity of the case, where motives and roles remain tangled. Interpol had previously released a portrait of Berezovska, adding to the public’s fascination with the events that unfolded in Monaco and Kyiv.
