Exiled tycoon felt safer in Monaco than Kyiv. It was a costly mistake

An exiled Ukrainian tycoon, Vadym Iermolaiev, reportedly sought refuge in Monaco’s La Rousse district, but was seriously injured in a booby-trapped attack in the principality. He had been sanctioned by Kyiv over allegations related to selling wine in Russian-occupied Crimea, and had moved to the French Riviera to pursue low taxes and “international protection.” According to French media accounts, the blast occurred around 9pm on Monday as he walked through a lobby, prompting an emergency police response. Prosecutors said Tuesday they were investigating an attempted assassination. A suspect was captured on CCTV fleeing on foot toward Beausoleil, France, and remained at large. Monaco’s minister of state said it was the first such act in the principality’s history, based on his knowledge. The article also notes wider scrutiny and questions about possible involvement by Moscow or Kyiv, alongside references to allegations of criminal networks linked to fraudulent call centres in Dnipro.