Updated Tuesday, June 30 at 2.15am
Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev is among those injured after a backpack bomb exploded in the entrance hall of a luxury Monaco apartment block on Monday evening, in what the Principality's Minister of State has described as "in all likelihood an attack."
Ermolaev, formerly one of Ukraine's 100 richest people, was injured alongside his partner and their 13-year-old son when a device packed with bolts and metal pellets detonated in the foyer of the Sun's Palace building, between the boulevard d'Italie and the rue Révérend-Père-Louis-Frolla, at around 9pm. A source close to the investigation confirmed his identity to AFP, as reported by France 24. The two adults are in a critical condition. The teenager, more lightly injured, was taken to the Lenval Hospital in Nice.
A man was captured on CCTV placing a bag in the building's entrance hall before fleeing on foot towards the French border town of Beausoleil. He had not been apprehended at the time of publication. French and Monégasque police are cooperating in the manhunt. Monaco has activated its red plan, a formal emergency protocol for events involving multiple casualties.
Ermolaev founded the Ukrainian conglomerate Alef and was formerly among his country's wealthiest citizens before renouncing his Ukrainian citizenship for Cypriot in 2019. President Zelensky imposed sanctions against him in 2023.
Prosecutor general Stéphane Thibault said nothing at this stage indicates why the building was targeted. Bomb disposal experts and judicial police officers remain at the scene.
Prince Albert II has described the explosion as "a shock for the entire Monegasque community." In a statement, the Prince said all state services are mobilised in close cooperation with French authorities, and expressed confidence they would identify those responsible as soon as possible. The prosecutor general is expected to hold a press briefing on Tuesday morning.
Minister of State Christophe Mirmand said it was, to his knowledge, the first time such an act had occurred in the Principality's history.
Nice mayor Eric Ciotti, Alpes-Maritimes prefect Charles-Ange Ginésy, Région Sud president Renaud Muselier and MP Alexandra Martin all issued statements of solidarity.
This is a developing story. Blue Coast News will update as confirmed information becomes available.