A major police manhunt is underway after an explosive device detonated inside a residential building in Monaco, injuring three people and shocking one of Europe’s wealthiest and most tightly secured enclaves.
The blast happened on Monday night, June 29, in a residential building near the French border. Authorities said three people were injured, including two adults who were seriously hurt and a younger family member who suffered less severe injuries.
Investigators believe the explosion was deliberate. According to reports, surveillance cameras captured a man leaving a backpack or package near the entrance of the building shortly before the device exploded. The suspect then fled on foot toward Beausoleil, a French town directly across the border from Monaco.
Police in Monaco and France are now working together to track the attacker. Officials have increased checks near the border, reviewed CCTV footage, and launched a wider search operation as investigators try to determine who planted the device and why.
The explosion reportedly occurred shortly before 9 p.m. local time on rue Révérend-Père-Louis-Frolla, close to Monaco’s border with France. The area is known for residential buildings and sits near one of the most heavily monitored parts of the principality.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene after the blast. The injured were taken for treatment, with the most seriously wounded reportedly transported to hospitals in nearby Nice, France.
French and Ukrainian media have reported that one of the injured adults is Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev, also spelled Vadym Iermolaiev in some reports. Authorities have not publicly confirmed every detail about the victims, but multiple outlets have described the injured people as members of the same family.
Yermolaiev is known as a Ukrainian construction and real estate businessman. He has also been reported to be under Ukrainian sanctions since 2023 over alleged business links connected to Russian-occupied Crimea. Investigators have not said whether that background is connected to the attack.
At this stage, no motive has been officially confirmed.
That point is important because the explosion has already led to speculation online. Some observers have suggested the attack could be linked to business, politics, the war in Ukraine, organized crime, or personal disputes. However, authorities have not publicly identified a motive, and the investigation remains active.
Monaco’s leader, Prince Albert II, condemned the attack and said the principality’s security services had been mobilized. Monaco’s Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, described the incident as unprecedented for the country and said the explosion appeared to be a deliberate act.
Reports said the device may have contained metal fragments such as bolts or buckshot, making it more dangerous. If confirmed, that detail would suggest the explosive was designed to injure people nearby, not simply damage property.
The attack has stunned Monaco because serious violent incidents are rare in the principality. Monaco is known for luxury apartments, casinos, yachts, Formula One, high security, and wealthy residents from around the world. Its small size and heavy surveillance make an attack of this kind especially unusual.
The location also complicates the investigation. Monaco is surrounded on three sides by France, and the suspect reportedly fled toward French territory within minutes. That means cross-border coordination is essential.
French police, Monaco authorities, and investigators are expected to examine surveillance footage from both Monaco and Beausoleil. They will likely review the suspect’s route, transportation possibilities, phone data, witness statements, and any forensic evidence recovered from the scene.
The explosion has also raised security concerns among wealthy foreign residents living in Monaco. Many high-profile businesspeople, athletes, entertainers, and international figures own property in the principality. The attack may increase pressure on authorities to strengthen security around residential buildings and border crossings.
For now, officials are urging the public to avoid spreading rumors and to allow investigators to verify the facts. The most urgent priority remains finding the suspect and determining whether the attacker acted alone or with help.
The victims’ condition is also being closely watched. Two adults were described as critically or seriously injured in early reports, while the younger victim’s injuries were reported as less severe.
The case may become one of Monaco’s most serious criminal investigations in years. If the device was intentionally planted to target a specific person, investigators will need to determine whether the attack was connected to the victims’ business background, nationality, personal history, or another motive entirely.
The incident also serves as a reminder that even the most secure and wealthy places are not immune from violence. Monaco’s reputation for safety has long been part of its appeal, but Monday night’s explosion has shaken that image.
As the manhunt continues, authorities in Monaco and France are expected to release more information about the suspect, the device, the victims, and the possible motive behind the attack.
For now, the confirmed facts remain alarming: an explosive device was left inside a residential building, three people were injured, the suspect fled toward France, and investigators are treating the incident as a deliberate act.
