A shocking twist has emerged in the case of Anastasiia Berezovska, a Ukrainian woman suspected of being involved in an attempted assassination targeting a millionaire businessman and his family in Monaco. Vladyslav Reut, a decorated Ukrainian military intelligence officer who had initially confessed to killing Berezovska, has dramatically changed his account, now claiming he did not fire the fatal shots.
Reut, 34, an active member of Ukraine's GUR intelligence agency, appeared in a Kyiv court for a custody hearing on Thursday, where he "categorically denied" murdering Berezovska. Instead, he pointed the finger at his alleged accomplice, Vitalii Zhykovych, claiming that Zhykovych had ordered him to remain silent about the killing.
The case has drawn significant attention due to its connections to Ukraine's security services and the country's internal dynamics. Berezovska, who had arrived in Ukraine by bus from Poland two days after the Monaco blast, was identified as a suspect through phone records and evidence of cash and cryptocurrency transfers between her and Zhykovych and Reut.
Reut initially led investigators to Berezovska's grave in woods west of Kyiv, confessing to the shooting. However, he now claims that his confession was coerced by Zhykovych, a 50-year-old former SBU security service employee. Zhykovych's lawyer has rejected this new narrative, describing his client as a "patriot" and dismissing the idea that he could have ordered a serving GUR officer to commit murder.
The motive behind the bomb attack in Monaco remains unclear. Vadim Yermolayev, the millionaire businessman targeted by the attempted assassination, had renounced his Ukrainian citizenship and has been sanctioned by Kyiv for continuing business activities in Crimea after its annexation by Russia. The case's complexities have raised questions about the internal dynamics of Ukraine's security services.
The evolving narrative from Reut adds a layer of complexity to an already opaque situation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged the gravity of the case, stating that he would have "additional relevant reports" to share in the coming days. The implications of this case are likely to continue unfolding as investigations progress.