The lawyer representing Vadym Iermolaiev, the Ukrainian businessman injured in Monday night’s parcel bomb attack in Monaco, has confirmed to Monaco Life that the three victims are 58-year-old Vadym Iermolaiev, his son, and his partner — clarifying that the woman injured in the blast is not his wife, as has been reported in several international outlets.
Grégoire Gamerdinger, of Monaco-based firm 99 Avocats, spoke directly to Monaco Life Editor in Chief Cassandra Tanti on behalf of the family, providing the first detailed statement from their legal representatives since the attack.
Investigation ongoing, family cooperating
Gamerdinger confirmed that the family is working closely with police and collaborating fully with the investigation. He said the legal team currently has limited access to information given the ongoing nature of the inquiry, and that the health of the victims has not changed from what Prosecutor General Stéphane Thibault indicated at Tuesday morning’s press conference, when he confirmed that one victim’s life was no longer in immediate danger while another remained in critical condition.
No known motive
On the question of why the attack took place, Gamerdinger said the family has no explanation. “There is no motive that we know of behind the attack,” he said.
Appeal for accuracy
The lawyer’s central message was a direct appeal to the media to exercise caution during what he described as a critical stage of the investigation.
Among the claims he sought to address directly was speculation linking the attack to Iermolaiev’s adult son, Artur — a separate individual from the 13-year-old son injured in Monday’s blast. Artur Iermolaiev was arrested by Interpol in Cyprus in late 2025 following an Estonian arrest warrant, and was recently sentenced to a suspended prison term and the confiscation of several million euros in assets, in connection with an alleged pan-European network of fraudulent call centres. Various media have suggested a possible connection between that case and the attack. Gamerdinger rejected any such connection. “There is no link at all,” he said. “And as the Prosecutor General said on Tuesday, Vadym Iermolaiev is not sought by any authorities.”
A “shocking and outrageous” attack in Monaco
Asked about the wider implications of the attack for Monaco’s reputation as one of the world’s safest places to live, Gamerdinger said, “Security and safety is the first interest of Monaco. I think it is something you can see in the Palace communication and in the National Council communication — it is very shocking and outrageous that something like this can happen in Monaco.”
He said the family places full trust in the Monégasque authorities and remains entirely at their disposal.
The suspect who left the explosive device at the entrance of the residential building on rue Révérend-Père-Louis-Frolla on Monday evening and fled towards Beausoleil remains at large.
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Photo of Vadym Iermolaiev from X/Twitter