Murder of Anastasiya Berezovska: journalists reveal new details and names of suspects

New details have emerged in the murder case of Anastasiya Berezovska, who is suspected of attempting to assassinate the Ukrainian sanctioned businessman Vadym Yermolayev and his family in Monaco. Journalists have identified the names of two men detained on suspicion of murdering the woman in Ukraine and report on them. This concerns, in particular, an employee of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence (according to official investigation data) and, likely, an employee of the SSU.

This is reported by “Schemes” (Radio Liberty).

On July 7, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported that two men detained in the case had been charged with the murder of Anastasiya Berezovska, whom Interpol had been seeking in connection with the explosion in Monaco. According to the investigation, the woman returned to Ukraine on July 1, and a few days later her body with gunshot wounds was found buried near Kyiv. The detainees, according to official statements by Ukrainian investigators, are a former law enforcement officer and a current employee of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. Investigators considered them likely involved in the assassination attempt on the Ukrainian businessman in Monaco, as they had data that both men had repeatedly transferred money to Berezovska’s crypto and bank accounts.

Using sources familiar with the case, “Schemes” established that Anastasya Berezovska was a 39-year-old native of Zhytomyr. What the woman did for a living is not precisely known; however, advertisements she posted on the OLX marketplace in 2021 may suggest that she may have earned money by breeding dogs.

In 2021, a court in Zhytomyr found Berezovska guilty of minor hooliganism. According to the court ruling, while intoxicated, she “insulted another woman with obscene language and pushed her.”

After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Berezovska moved to Germany — this is evidenced by tags from her mobile phone in other people’s contact lists (“Germany Nastya”, “Anastasiya Frankfurt”), as well as her activity in local Telegram groups “RedFish.Frankfurt am Main”, “Excursions around Frankfurt and beyond”. According to media reports from Der Spiegel, it was in Frankfurt that German police special units searched an apartment used by the Ukrainian woman and seized her car.

One of the suspects in the murder of Anastasiya Berezovska named by Ukrainian law enforcement is a current employee of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence. Earlier, the media published his name — Yevhen Reut; however, according to two independent sources of the editorial team, it was his brother Vladyslav Reut who was charged. He is 33 years old and originally from Zhytomyr. A man with the same full name is a graduate of the Faculty of Law of the Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics. In the NumBuster app, which shows how a user is saved in other users’ phones, there is a tag “Vlad Lawyers”, and court records mention a plaintiff’s representative with this name in several cases. Since 2022, Vladyslav Reut has likely been serving in military unit A2772 — the training center of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The journalists sent a request to the Defence Intelligence asking to confirm or deny that this person is a current intelligence officer and are awaiting a response.

Earlier, the Defence Intelligence commented on the case, noting that the suspects in Berezovska’s murder were detained by officers of the National Police, the SSU, and the Prosecutor General’s Office.

“The Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine is interested in a full investigation and provides comprehensive support to law enforcement agencies. The investigation is ongoing with the personal assistance of the Chief of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Oleh Ivashchenko,” the agency stated.

“Schemes” contacted Vladyslav Reut’s father, but he refused to speak with journalists, saying he knew nothing about the situation, and hung up. He also did not respond to follow-up messages in the messenger.

The journalists also called Yevhen Reut, who was initially mistakenly named as a suspect, to ask about his brother. He answered the call but declined to comment without a lawyer.

From sources, “Schemes” learned the name of the second suspect. The editorial team is not naming him until his name is officially released by investigators. He is a 49-year-old native of Uman who worked as a police officer in the Kyiv region until 2020. Among the tags for his mobile number next to his name is a mention of “OPV UKR”, which may indicate that he previously worked in the Criminal Investigation Department of the police. There is also a mention of “Kontr VB”. Phone tags and database leaks also suggest that the man may previously have been a serviceman of the “Right Sector”. According to two sources familiar with the case, he may be either a current or former employee of the SSU.

The journalists sent a request to the security service asking to confirm or deny this. The editorial team will publish the response as soon as it is received. The journalists attempted to contact the second suspect’s family, but no one answered their numbers.

This summer, it became known that Interpol had put Ukrainian citizen Anastasiya Berezovska on its wanted list — she is suspected of attempting to assassinate Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolayev in Monaco.

As reported by the Daily Mail, citing sources in the investigation, the woman was identified by a witness. Cameras captured her in a black panama hat crossing the border on foot in the French city of Beausoleil without passport control. According to investigators, she then headed to Italy, likely in the company of accomplices.

The explosion occurred on the evening of June 29 on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla in Monaco. Case materials state that the suspect hid an explosive device in a backpack near the entrance to the Sun’s Palace residential building and detonated it from a mobile phone while standing approximately 12 meters away. The explosion injured Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolayev, his companion, and their son.

The prosecutors of Monaco and France opened criminal cases under articles related to attempted murder, planting an explosive device in a public place, and criminal conspiracy.