The Pechersk District Court of Kyiv has issued a ruling in the case of the murder of Anastasia Berezovskaya, who was previously suspected of organizing an assassination attempt on Ukrainian oligarch Vadim Ermolaev in Monaco. The court granted the prosecution's request and selected a preventive measure for the second figure in the investigation.
Vitaliy Zhikovych arrested for 60 days
Former Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) employee Vitaliy Zhikovych has been sentenced to detention for a period of 60 days. The court ruled that the preventive measure is to be applied without the right to post bail. The prosecution insisted on this option, while the defendant's defense proposed an alternative in the form of round-the-clock house arrest with electronic monitoring, but the court rejected this proposal.
Zhikovych is the second suspect in the murder of Berezovskaya. Earlier, on the same day, the court adopted a similar decision regarding the first suspect — Vladislava Reuta, a current employee of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR). He was also sentenced to 60 days of arrest without the right to bail.
Confession and change of position: Reuta's version
During the court hearing, Vladislava Reuta made unexpected statements. He stated that he did not fire the fatal shot at Anastasia Berezovskaya. According to the suspect, it was Zhikovych who carried out the murder, while he himself acted under duress.
Reuta expressed his willingness to cooperate further with the investigation. He did not object to detention and agreed to undergo a polygraph test to confirm his words.
Chronology of the tragedy: from the explosion in Monaco to the body near Kyiv
The events leading to the current court proceedings unfolded at the end of June. On the evening of June 29, an assassination attempt was made on sanctioned Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev in the elite Le Rocher district of Monaco. Around 21:00, an unknown person left a bag with an explosive device at the entrance to the residential building and fled.
Initially, investigators focused on the version of a male perpetrator. However, it was subsequently established that the crime could have been committed by a woman disguised as a man. The main suspect became Ukrainian Anastasia Berezovskaya, who lived in Germany.
On the evening of July 6, a buried body of a woman was discovered near Kyiv. Law enforcement officials identified it as the body of Berezovskaya and, as part of the investigation, detained two suspects in her murder — Vladislava Reuta and Vitaliy Zhikovych.
Condition of the victims
Vadim Ermolaev himself, who was in a coma after the explosion, has already regained consciousness. His companion Anna Nasobina remains in critical condition — due to severe injuries, both of her legs were amputated. Their 13-year-old son was also injured in the explosion, but there is no threat to his life.
