In brief
In Kyiv, GUR officer Vladyslav Reut publicly denied firing a shot at Anastasiia Berezovska, the woman linked to a suspected Monaco bomb attack, shifting responsibility onto fellow suspect Vitalii Zhykovych. The case has been shrouded in uncertainty since the alleged bombing breach of Monaco’s border by a parcel bomb, with police still probing motive and possible Russian involvement. Reut’s sudden reversal—from confessing the murder to proclaiming innocence—has raised questions about the reality of the proof he supplied to authorities. The investigation remains stalled as both men remain in custody and their testimonies appear increasingly contradictory.
In a startling court hearing in Kyiv on Thursday, GUR (Military Intelligence Agency) officer Vladyslav Reut announced that he had no part in killing Anastasiia Berezovska, the woman believed to have tried to bomb a multimillionaire’s family in Monaco. He stated that his alleged accomplice, former SBU staffer Vitalii Zhykovych, was solely responsible for the murder.
Reut initially helped police discover Berezovska’s burial site in a woodland west of Kyiv, and the investigation was built on signals from her phone, bank transfers, and cryptocurrency transactions that linked the two men to her. Minutes after her lethal interrogation, Reut, 34, stood before a judge, with heavily armed officers clad in balaclavas surrounding him, and issued a contradictory testimony.
“I fought enemy combatants while defending my country,” he told the court, “I would never intentionally murder an innocent civilian woman.” He further alleged that Zhykovych threatened him, claiming that any harm to Reut would endanger his family.
The case’s origin lies in the early‑summer explosion near Monaco’s French border—a parcel bomb that damaged a building but left no casualties. Ukrainian authorities say the blast may have been orchestrated by a conspiratorial group; yet no single narrative remains solid. While the prosecutor has highlighted coordinated activity between the two men, the courtroom remains tense, as lawyers argue the possibility of Russian ties and systematic corruption.
Both suspects were denied bail and remain in custody amid ongoing inquiries. A Ukrainian government official hinted that additional files would surface soon, potentially shedding light on the motive, the role of a possible Russian intelligence trail, and the true identity of the alleged bomb plot.
Key Facts
- Reut: 34‑year‑old GUR officer, denies shooting Berezovska.
- Zhykovych: 50‑year‑old former SBU operative, accused of ordering the murder.
- Berezovska: 39‑year‑old woman allegedly linked to a parcel bomb targeting a Ukrainian‑born multimillionaire in Monaco.
- Monaco incident: 29 June 2026—parcel bomber explosion, no casualties but property damage.
- Investigation: Hacked phone data, crypto payments, coordinated arrival at burial site.
As Kyiv’s courts continue to dissect confessions and contradictions, the broader picture of Ukraine’s intelligence community, international espionage ties, and the volatile geopolitics of the region remains murky—setting the stage for an investigative saga that may redefine the paths of those involved.
