Three people were injured in an explosion at a residential building in the Principality of Monaco, which authorities have described as a “deliberate attack.” State Minister Christophe Mirmand told AFP the blast was “very likely an attack.” The explosion occurred around 9:00 p.m. local time in a building located on a road that runs along the border with France.

Prosecutor Stéphane Thibault said a suspect reportedly left a bag in the building’s lobby before walking away. According to Mirmand, a couple aged about 50–60 sustained very serious, life-threatening injuries, while a 13-year-old boy suffered less severe wounds. The three injured are said to be Ukrainian and members of the same family — father, mother and son. The father has been identified by sources close to the case as Vadim Ermolaev, a Kiev businessman and oligarch; he and his wife are now in guarded condition.

Loud explosion reported in Monaco; circumstances unclear pic.twitter.com/hncjifCHda

— Winston (@winap) June 29, 2026

Ermolaev, a well-known businessman and Ukrainian oligarch, was born in 1968. According to Forbes, he ranks 23rd among the 100 largest fortunes in Ukraine.

The explosive device reportedly contained bolts and shotgun pellets, Mirmand said, adding that police have opened an investigation. “To my knowledge, this is the first time an incident of this kind has occurred in the Principality,” the minister said.

Backpack left in the street, then the escape: the flight of the man with the hat

A man wearing a hat and a dark T-shirt was captured on surveillance cameras outside the building. The suspect, currently at large according to local media, was filmed leaving a backpack in the street and then walking toward Beausoleil. The cross-border nature of the suspect’s movement requires coordination between Monegasque and French authorities.

Several fire service units and specialized vehicles from the Alpes-Maritimes were mobilized as reinforcements. The mayor of Nice, Eric Ciotti, and the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, Charles-Ange Ginésy, both issued statements expressing solidarity.