Ukrainian Spy’s Tale Shifts in Murder Case

Ukrainian agent accused of murdering Monaco – Thursday’s courtroom proceedings in Kyiv revealed a dramatic reversal in the case surrounding the death of a woman believed to be connected to the Monaco bombing. Vladyslav Reut, an active intelligence officer for Ukraine’s GUR agency, initially confessed to killing Anastasiia Berezovska but has now completely changed his account of events.

During a custody hearing, the 34-year-old agent stated he “categorically denied” being responsible for Berezovska’s murder. Instead, he placed full blame on his co-defendant, Vitalii Zhykovych, a former SBU security service employee who is 50 years old. This development adds complexity to a case that has drawn significant public interest due to both suspects’ backgrounds in Ukrainian security services.

From Confession to Counter-Claim

Just days before appearing in court, Reut had led investigators to Berezovska’s burial site in the woods west of Kyiv. The grave was covered with branches, and Reut had initially claimed he was the one who shot her. However, his revised testimony paints a different picture entirely.

“I fought enemy combatants while defending my country,” Reut emphasized during his court appearance. “I would never intentionally murder an innocent civilian woman.”

According to Reut’s new version of events, he and Zhykovych drove in his BMW to collect Berezovska from a highway near Kyiv. She reportedly needed to be hidden due to “a criminal matter,” though Reut did not specify what this involved. During the journey, Zhykovych allegedly retrieved a modified Makarov pistol from his rucksack and loaded it. When Reut expressed concern, Zhykovych supposedly explained this was merely precautionary in case Berezovska became frightened.

The Shooting and Its Aftermath

Reut claims they arrived at a forest path near the village of Yuriv, where all three individuals exited the vehicle. At this point, Zhykovych allegedly ordered Reut to shoot Berezovska, declaring: “It’s either her or us.” However, Reut maintains that Zhykovych ultimately fired four shots that killed Berezovska himself.

Following the shooting, Reut says the two men dug a grave and concealed her body. Zhykovych then reportedly threw both the weapon and Berezovska’s personal belongings into a nearby lake. When questioned about why he initially confessed to the crime, Reut explained that Zhykovych had threatened him, saying: “If anything happens to me, your relatives are in danger.”

Legal Responses and Broader Context

Zhykovych’s attorney, Anatoliy Ivanov, dismissed Reut’s revised account. Described as shaven-headed and constantly handling wooden rosary beads, Ivanov characterized his client as a low-level former SBU officer. He argued that a civilian like Berezovska could not have commanded a serving GUR member to commit murder. Ivanov described Zhykovych as a “patriot” who had fought in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and actively defended the Kyiv region following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

The prosecutor maintains that both men acted “jointly and in a coordinated fashion” and have been charged with premeditated murder. Both suspects appeared in court with their hands cuffed, surrounded by heavily armed security officers wearing balaclavas. They kept their hoods up and wore large masks throughout the proceedings, with only their eyes visible.

Berezovska had arrived in Ukraine by bus from Poland just two days after the Monaco explosion, before being identified as the prime suspect. The businessman she allegedly targeted, Vadym Yermolayev, made his fortune in cognac and real estate. He had renounced his Ukrainian citizenship several years ago and was later sanctioned by Kyiv for continuing business operations in Crimea after Russia’s annexation.

President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated on Thursday evening that he would provide “additional relevant reports” in the coming days, though the motive behind the Monaco blast remains uncertain.