The small Mediterranean principality of Monaco, a haven known for its elite and low-crime environment, was shaken by a rare and violent act of terrorism on Monday night, when an explosive device detonated at the entrance of a residential building near the French border, leaving three people seriously injured. Local authorities confirmed the attacker fled across the border into France after the blast, and a multi-jurisdictional manhunt is currently underway.
According to initial statements from top government officials, the explosion was reported at approximately 9 p.m. local time. The three injured victims — two adults and one child — were rushed across the border for emergency medical treatment at hospitals in France. Christophe Mirmand, Monaco’s Minister of State, the highest-ranking official in the principality’s government, told reporters that the suspect managed to leave Monaco on foot immediately after the attack, and investigators have already identified the individual through cross-referencing video surveillance footage from both Monaco and the adjacent French town of Beausoleil.
Multiple French and Ukrainian media outlets have named one of the injured as prominent Ukrainian construction magnate Vadym Iermolaiev. Ukrainska Pravda, a leading Ukrainian news outlet, added context to the attack noting that Iermolaiev was placed under Ukrainian sanctions in 2023 due to his documented business and political ties to Russia.
Prince Albert II, Monaco’s ruling sovereign, quickly issued a public statement condemning the attack, describing it as “an odious act”. He confirmed that all of the principality’s law enforcement and security agencies have been fully mobilized to support the investigation and shore up public safety across the country. Mirmand added that the motive behind the attack remains unconfirmed, and investigators are currently working through all possible leads to determine what drove the attack.
French national law enforcement has also confirmed that local police units are actively involved in the search for the suspect, providing full logistical and investigative support to Monaco authorities. A senior French police official declined to share additional details about the ongoing operation, citing the active status of the investigation.