Ukrainian intelligence agent Vladyslav Reut, who earlier admitted responsibility for the death of Anastasiia Berezovska, the woman suspected of staging a bomb attack in Monaco, has now recanted that claim, insisting he never fired a gun.
In a courtroom held on Thursday in Kyiv, Reut told judges he let his accomplice, former SBU officer Vitalii Zhykovych, carry out the killing, a statement that throws the case into new legal and political uncertainty.
The incident hinges on a parcel bomb that exploded near the Monaco‑France border, killing no one but provoking a global response and leading authorities in Ukraine to track suspects via mobile phone records and financial transfers.
Both accused men were deprived of bail and remain in custody as prosecutors investigate possible links to Russian‑sponsored espionage and organised crime, while the alleged motive behind the bomb remains unclear.
The case also raises questions about the reach of Ukrainian intelligence operatives and the safeguards required when former intelligence officers collaborate with civilians suspected of terrorism.
