A Ukrainian woman described as “armed and dangerous” is the main suspect in a bomb explosion in Monaco, which seriously injured a Ukrainian oligarch and his partner.

Monaco’s public prosecutor, Stéphane Thibault, confirmed on Thursday that the suspect is a Ukrainian woman in her early 30s, who is listed as a resident of Germany. “An arrest warrant has been issued against the suspect, and an Interpol Red Notice will also be issued for her from tonight,” he said.

A source close to the investigation said the woman allegedly attempted to “appear like a man” during the attack, but was identified by a witness.

According to the same information, she is likely fleeing with accomplices in Italy, and it cannot be ruled out that she may have reached the Balkans.

The main suspect is believed to have targeted 58-year-old billionaire Vadym Yermolaev, his 46-year-old partner Anna Nasobina, and their 13-year-old son on Monday evening.

The woman, whose name has not been released, was captured on CCTV outside the Sun’s Palace, the luxury residential complex owned by Yermolaev.

The explosion occurred shortly before 21:00 at the building entrance, when an abandoned backpack detonated after the woman allegedly activated the device using a mobile phone.

Nasobina suffered the amputation of both legs as a result of the blast, while she and Yermolaev were both seriously injured by shrapnel and burns.

Entered France and then travelled on to Italy

“The main suspect has been identified by a witness. She is a Ukrainian woman in her early 30s,” a source from the investigation said. CCTV footage showed the woman, wearing a black hat, fleeing on foot towards France, crossing a border area with no checkpoint controls.

Investigators say she moved towards the French town of Beausoleil and then headed to Italy. “She is armed and dangerous and is believed to be travelling with accomplices. She must be approached with extreme caution,” the same source said.

Judicial authorities in France and Monaco have launched an investigation into “attempted murder”, “placing an explosive device in a public place with criminal intent” and “criminal conspiracy”.

CCTV cameras had first recorded the suspect in the area on Monday morning, before she later returned to plant the bomb. Authorities estimate she was standing around 12 metres away when she activated the explosive device.

13-year-old son has recovered and is giving testimony

The couple’s injured son has recovered quickly and is already giving statements to police and judicial authorities. “He is describing exactly what he saw, although his memories are understandably blurred,” a security source said. “It appears his mother took the main force of the blast, while he suffered relatively minor burns and shrapnel injuries.”

Anna Nasobina has been described as Yermolaev’s partner. She is a Ukrainian national from the city of Dnipro, where he also originates from, and spends much of her time in England.

She states that she is based in London and, since 2023, has been listed as a director of Wycombe Square Investments LLP, while she frequently resides in Monaco, mainly during the summer months.

She is the daughter of a former senior public prosecutor in the Dnipropetrovsk region and studied Law at the National University of Dnipro, followed by further studies at an international management institute before settling in London.

Nasobina is also a co-founder of the Club Eclectique, a private members’ club with a cultural and literary focus, founded in 2016 with presence in London and Monaco.

Authorities believe the suspect most likely used a so-called “burner phone”, a cheap disposable mobile purchased without registration and commonly used in criminal activity before being discarded.

Prosecutor Stéphane Thibault said: “We are trying to arrest the suspect.” Police helicopters and French army helicopters equipped with searchlights, as well as drones, are involved in ongoing investigations since the day of the attack.

Although there are theories about possible involvement of the Ukrainian security service SBU, the prevailing assessment among investigators is that this is a case of “settling of scores” by criminal networks.

The explosion is the first attack of this kind in Monaco, one of the world’s best-known tax havens, considered neutral and highly secure territory.

“He had enemies, he lived on the edge”

Yermolaev is said to have accumulated many enemies over the years, and one of the reasons he moved to Monaco was the security it offered. Ukrainian businessman Seyar Kursutov, a friend of Yermolaev, told Le Monde that the billionaire had an “obsession with security”. “Vadym lived on a razor’s edge,” he said.

French authorities are examining several scenarios, including financial disputes, organised crime, and possible conflicts linked to Yermolaev’s business past.

Like many oligarchs who built fortunes after the collapse of the Soviet Union, he has at times faced allegations of illegal activity, which he denies.

Reports state he has lived in Monaco since 2021. In 2019, he renounced Ukrainian citizenship and obtained a Cypriot passport, while in December 2023 he was placed under personal sanctions by Kyiv.

France is assisting in efforts to locate the suspect. An associate of French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police are working to “find the perpetrator, who has fled”.