A Ukrainian intelligence agent, previously confessing to the murder of the woman suspected in a Monaco bomb plot, has dramatically altered his account in a Kyiv courtroom. Vladyslav Reut, an active and decorated officer of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (GUR), appeared for a custody hearing on Thursday, where he “categorically denied” committing the murder of Anastasiia Berezovska and instead pointed blame at his alleged accomplice, Vitalii Zhykovych.
This complex case has garnered significant attention due to the involvement of high-profile security personnel. Reut, 34, is a GUR officer, while his co-defendant, Zhykovych, 50, worked for the SBU security service until recently. The motive behind the initial Monaco blast, which targeted multimillionaire businessman Vadym Yermolayev and his family last week, remains unclear.
Yermolayev, who amassed wealth in cognac and real estate, had previously renounced his Ukrainian citizenship and was sanctioned by Kyiv for continuing business operations in Crimea after its takeover by Russia.
Just days prior to his court appearance, Reut had led investigators to Berezovska's grave, located in woods west of Kyiv and covered with branches. He had initially confessed to shooting the 39-year-old woman. However, in court, Reut announced his desire to “tell the truth,” shifting responsibility entirely to Zhykovych. “I fought enemy combatants while defending my country,” Reut stressed. “I would never intentionally murder an innocent civilian woman.”
In his revised testimony, Reut claimed that he and Zhykovych drove in his BMW to pick up Berezovska on the highway to Kyiv, stating she “needed to be hidden” in connection with “a criminal matter.” Reut alleged that during the drive, Zhykovych produced and loaded a modified Makarov pistol from his rucksack, claiming it was a precaution “in case she panics.” Upon collecting Berezovska, Reut said he was directed to drive towards the village of Yuriv, where all three exited onto a forest path.
There, Reut claimed Zhykovych ordered him to shoot, saying, “It’s either her or us,” before Zhykovych himself shot Berezovska four times. The two men then allegedly dug a grave and buried her body, after which Zhykovych reportedly threw the gun and Berezovska’s belongings into a nearby lake.
When questioned about his initial confession, Reut stated he was threatened by Zhykovych, who allegedly warned, “If anything happens to me, your relatives are in danger.”
Zhykovych’s lawyer, Anatoliy Ivanov, vehemently rejected Reut’s new account. Ivanov, who described his client as a low-level former SBU officer and a “patriot” who fought in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and actively defended the Kyiv region after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, dismissed the notion that a civilian could order a serving GUR member to commit murder.
Ivanov insisted that his client “did not kill,” adding, in reference to Reut’s statement, “He does not want to be imprisoned. I understand.”
Security was notably tight inside the Kyiv courtroom, with both suspects brought in for separate hearings, hands cuffed, and surrounded by heavily armed officers in balaclavas. Both men kept their hoods up and faces covered by masks, leaving only their eyes visible, and sat hunched inside a glass courtroom cage, backs to the TV cameras.
The prosecutor clarified that Anastasiia Berezovska had arrived in Ukraine two days after the Monaco blast, before she was identified by Interpol as the prime suspect. Investigators quickly focused on Zhykovych and Reut using Berezovska’s phone records and identified cash and cryptocurrency transfers made by the two men to her accounts.
Prosecutor Dmytro Tkachuk stated that the two men acted “jointly and in a coordinated fashion,” and both have been charged with premeditated murder. Tkachuk told the BBC that “All versions are being considered” regarding the motive for Berezovska’s murder. While one suspect has “revealed” some information about a possible motive, Tkachuk noted that making it public at this time would hinder the ongoing investigation.
Zhykovych’s lawyer also suggested a potential “Russian trail,” citing past instances of Ukrainian intelligence agents being recruited by Moscow, though he presented no evidence. Other theories, including corruption and organized crime, are also being explored.
The judge denied bail for both Vladyslav Reut and Vitalii Zhykovych, remanding them in custody as the investigation continues into this case, which presents uncomfortable questions for authorities in Kyiv.
The aftermath of the explosion near Monaco's border with France
"We've had a lot of such rats, unfortunately," he said.
