Monaco bomb probe takes bizarre twist as Ukrainian spy now claims he DIDN'T kill suspect

A Ukrainian spy has now claimed he did not kill the woman suspected of bombing a multimillionaire in Monaco.

Anastasiia Berezovska, who was suspected of attempting to assassinate Vadim Ermolaev and his mistress, was found dead near the woods in Kyiv earlier this week.

Vladyslav Reut, who led investigators to her grave, previously confessed to killing her.

But he has now blamed his co-defendant, Vitalii Zhykovych, who he said pulled the trigger.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky has also weighed in, promising there would be "additional relevant reports" to share in the coming days.

The two suspects were brought into separate court hearings, wearing hoods throughout proceedings and the majority of their faces covered by snoods.

In court, prosecutors said Berezovska arrived by bus from Poland into Ukraine after the Monaco blast, before she was identified as the suspect of the case by Interpol.

Once aware of the allegations, investigators quickly identified both men using Berezovska's phone records, later identifying cash and cryptocurrency transfers the pair made to her accounts.

Mr Reut quickly confessed to shooting Berezovska, and brought investigators to her body in the woods west of Kyiv, in a grave covered with branches.

Just days later, he would change his story, saying he wanted to "tell the truth", placing the blame onto Mr Zhykovych.

He said: "I fought enemy combatants while defending my country. I would never intentionally murder an innocent civilian woman."

Now Mr Reut claims he drove with Mr Zhykovych to pick up Berezovska in connection to a "criminal matter" because she "needed to be hidden".

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He said Mr Zhykovych pulled out a modified Makarov pistol and loaded it to the protestations of Mr Reut, with the former SBU agent claiming it was needed as a precaution "in case she panics".

He then claimed he was told to drive towards the village of Yuriv where all three climbed out on a forest path, where Mr Reut was told by Mr Zhykovych to shoot her, before shooting the alleged Monaco bomber four times himself.

But Mr Zhykovych's lawyer has rejected the new account, describing his client as a former low-level officer, now civilian, could not tell Mr Reut - an active GUR agent - to do anything.

He described Mr Zhykovych as a "patriot" who served in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and "actively defended" Kyiv in 2022.

Mr Zhykovych's lawyer insisted his client "did not kill".

Both men have been charged with premeditated murder for behaving in a "jointly and in coordinated fashion".

In court, Mr Zhykovych's lawyer suggested there could be a "Russian trail", with recruitment from Moscow having previously occurred.

The pair have been denied bail by the judge and remanded in custody while the investigation continues.

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