A woman critically injured in Monday night's explosion in a residential building in Monaco has been named locally as Anna Nasobina, 46, who lost both legs in the blast and remains in a serious condition. She is the mother of a son aged 13 whom she shares with Ukrainian born businessman Vadim Ermolaev, 58. The boy was also injured in the blast and is said to be stable.
Nasobina was in the building with Ermolaev and their son at the time of the explosion. The couple have been together for a number of years. All three were taken to Pasteur Hospital in Nice for treatment.
Nasobina built a career spanning law and the private members' club world. After training as a lawyer at Dnipropetrovsk National University and completing further study at the International Institute of Management, she relocated to London, where she has practised as a notary according to company filings. Since January 2023 she has served as director of Wycombe Square Investments LLP, a London registered investment firm. She is also a co founder of Club Éclectique, a private literary and arts club established in 2016 with premises in central London, bringing together figures from the worlds of literature, culture and the arts.
Ermolaev's wife, Anna Yermolaieva, was elsewhere at the time and was not injured. She later told Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne that she was cooperating with investigators.
Monaco police have opened an attempted murder investigation after a suspect placed an explosive device in the foyer of the building on Monday evening. Christophe Mirmand, Monaco's minister of state, told reporters the family appears to have been specifically targeted, and that surveillance footage showed the suspect had walked around the area several times while waiting for the victims. The suspect fled on foot into the neighbouring French town of Beausoleil and remains at large, with French police assisting Monaco's investigation.
Prince Albert II condemned the attack in strong terms, describing it as a shock to the Monégasque community, and confirmed that the principality's security services have been mobilised. Monaco, home to roughly 38,000 residents, is typically regarded as one of the safest places in the world, with an extensive network of public CCTV coverage.
Ermolaev built his fortune through the Alef Group, a diversified business with interests in commercial real estate, manufacturing and agriculture, and has lived in Monaco since 2021. He was placed under Ukrainian sanctions in December 2023 over alleged business ties to territory occupied by Russia, which he has previously denied any wrongdoing in connection with. Some Ukrainian outlets have linked the attack to unrelated fraud allegations against Ermolaev. His legal representatives in Monaco say no legal proceedings have been brought against him in any jurisdiction, and those claims remain unverified.
The motive for the attack has not been confirmed, and investigators have not ruled out any line of enquiry.
Blue Coast News will continue to follow this story as it develops.