NewsWorld newsMonacoEmergency services on scene in Monaco after explosionLIVEUpdated just nowUkrainian oligarch Vadim Ermolaev, 58, and his wife are fighting for their lives after a bomb blast ripped through the La Rousse district of MonacoA massive bomb blast has rocked Monaco leaving a Ukrainian billionaire oligarch and his wife fighting for their lives.Vadim Ermolaev, 58, is a real estate mogul and the 23rd richest man in Ukraine, according to Forbes. It is understood that he fled the country after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.A suspect is on the run after being seen on CCTV dumping a backpack on Rue du Révérend Père Louis Frolla with Monaco's minister of state Christophe Mirmand calling the incident a "deliberate explosion".The explosive device, described as a "parcel bomb", likely contained bolts and shot, officials said. A 13-year-old boy was also injured in the blast though not as seriously.The suspect fled on foot towards the town of Beausoleil, which a Brit resident of Monaco explained "is just over the border into France".View PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostToday07:39 BSTForensic officers worked into night collecting evidence at sceneThe Monaco Government has provided an update on X on the progress of the investigation.Forensic officers remained at the scene until late on Monday night, collecting evidence.A press conference was held that evening by Christophe Mirmand, accompanied by Lionel Beffre and Thomas Brezzo.The public prosecutor is expected to present the first findings of the investigation today and announce the preliminary legal classification of the incident.Content cannot be displayed without consentToday07:21 BSTHere's everything we know so farA makeshift bomb exploded at the entrance of a residence near central Monaco yesterday night, injuring three people - two adults and a childThe blast happened shortly before 9pm CEST (8pm BST)The victims were taken to hospitals in neighbouring France, where two of them are being treated for life-threatening injuries, Minister of State of Monaco Christophe Mirmand has saidOne of the victims has been identified by French broadcaster BFM and Ukrainian news site Ukrainska Pravda as Ukrainian construction tycoon Vadim Yermolayev, while the other adult is understood to be his partnerYermolayev was targeted by Ukrainian sanctions in 2023 for his ties to RussiaCCTV footage showed ⁠a man dropping a backpack at the entrance of a residential building shortly before the blastThe principality's prosecutor general described the explosive device ⁠as a "parcel bomb"The suspect crossed the border into France on foot and was identified via video surveillance in Monaco and the neighbouring French town of Beausoleil, Mirmand saidA French national police official said French police are searching for the suspect and supporting the investigationToday07:00 BSTHeavy police presenceA heavy police presence was at the scene of the incident in Monaco.Police vehicles and cordons can be seen.A helicopter was also spotted circling in the area as a manhunt is underway for the suspect.‌Today06:59 BSTFrench rescue teams providing reinforcementFrench rescue teams are on site providing reinforcements and police cooperation has been established to find the suspect, local media reported the Minister of the Interior as saying.Today06:04 BSTFour people taken to hospital after 'shaken' by blastMinister of State Christophe Mirmand told BFMTV that "four people were taken" to the hospital.The four people were "not injured but simply shaken" by the explosion.Today06:02 BSTTwo of three victims named as Vadim Ermolaev and partnerOne of the victims is reported to be Vadim Ermolaev's partner, BFM reports.‌Today05:28 BSTSanctions reportedly stem from alcohol business activityErmolaev has been subject to sanction from Kyiv since December 2023.Ukrainian security services reportedly said the sanctions stemmed from his alcohol business activity in Russian-occupied Crimea.Today03:53 BSTSuspect seen on video surveillance in Monaco and FranceThe suspect crossed the border into France on foot and was identified via video surveillance in Monaco and the neighbouring French town of Beausoleil, said Monaco's Minister of State (head of government), Christophe Mirmand.A significant police presence has been deployed in the area following the incident, as authorities launch a manhunt for the suspect.Read more here.Today03:25 BSTSuspect caught on CCTVCCTV footage shows a man dressed in a black bucket hat and jumper dumping a backpack in the foyer of an apartment block before vacating the scene hastily.CCTV footage shows suspect flee by foot after horror attack in Monaco(Image: CCTV)‌Today02:55 BSTTwo victims being treated in hospitalThe two adults injured in the explosion, including Yermolayev, were taken to the Pasteur Hospital in Nice.The younger victim was reportedly treated at the scene.Today02:15 BSTWho is Vadim Yermolayev?Ukrainian-born businessman Vadim Yermolayev, who is reportedly among those fighting for his life after the suspected bomb explosion, is one of the wealthiest oligarch figures to emerge from the country's industrial sector.Yermolayev is described in public sources as a Cypriot-based businessman of Ukrainian origin. He is a real estate developer, best known for his role in developing projects in the city of Dnipro.He is associated with the Alef Group, a commercial and industrial conglomerate founded in 1997, with interests spanning real estate, manufacturing, agribusiness, alcohol production and trade.Public estimates of his wealth have varied widely over time, with figures ranging from around $173 million to more than $800 million.According to publicly available reports, Yermolayev obtained Cypriot citizenship in 2019 and later renounced his Ukrainian citizenship.He is under sanctions in Ukraine.Today01:40 BSTLocal says she thought explosion was a fireworkA local has explained how she thought a fireworks display was going off at the time of the attack.Marine Cotta told BFMTV: "I thought to myself, 'Oh, it's just another firework', and shortly after I started receiving messages to see how I was doing."She said she found out about the incident on social media.Marine added: "I could hear the police, the alarms, the firefighters and then I thought, 'Okay, something's happening.'"‌Today01:22 BSTLarge emergency response presence remainsA large emergency response presence remains in place after the explosion.A cordon is in place and police are working to locate the suspect.Emergency services have rushed to the scene of an explosion in Monaco(Image: AFP via Getty Images)Today01:06 BSTExplosive described as 'parcel bomb'The explosive device has been described as a "parcel bomb" by the principality’s prosecutor general.Today00:13 BSTVictim under sanctions in UkraineVadim Yermolayev is under sanctions in Ukraine.‌29th Jun23:47 BSTUkrainian oligarch billionaire Vadim Yermolayev 'among three injured in Monaco explosion'One of the victims of an explosion in Monaco is as a billionaire Ukrainian oligarch, according to local reports.Three people - all believed to be Ukrainian - have been injured in the explosion shortly after 9pm on Monday, June 29 on Rue du Révérend Père Louis Frolla.One victim was named locally by Monaco Matin news outlet as Vadim Yermolayev, one of Ukraine's wealthiest men. It is understood that he fled the country after the latest bout of conflict with Russia.Read the full story here.29th Jun23:37 BSTTwo victims have life-threatening injuriesTwo of the victims have suffered life-threatening injuries, Minister of State of Monaco Christophe Mirmand has said.29th Jun22:57 BSTBlast occurred shortly before 9pmThe blast occurred shortly before 9pm.‌29th Jun22:56 BSTManhunt continues for suspect after Monaco explosionThe suspect remains at large following the explosion in Monaco but he has been tracked using security cameras making his way through Monaco and to Beausoleil.Police officers from the Nice Anti-Crime Squad (BAC), as well as emergency response units from Nice and Menton, have been sent to reinforce the Beausoleil area.A police cordon in place following the explosion(Image: AFP via Getty Images)29th Jun22:51 BSTExplosive device believed to have contained 'bolts and pellets'Monaco's Minister of State Christophe Mirmand told AFP that the explosive device is believed to have contained "bolts and shot" which would have been designed to cause maximum injuries."The explosive device likely contained bolts and pellets," he said. "The police are currently gathering evidence."The incident happened outside a residential property(Image: X)29th Jun22:45 BSTFrench rescue teams working with Monaco colleaguesFrench rescue teams are helping Monaco emergency services following the explosion."Following the explosion this evening in Monaco, French rescue teams are on site to reinforce the operation and police cooperation has been put in place to find the perpetrator who fled," a source close to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said, reported TF1.Emergency services at the scene(Image: X)‌29th Jun22:38 BST'First time such an act has happened in Monaco' says head of stateMonaco's head of state, Christophe Mirmand says: "The police are currently gathering evidence."This is the first time in history, to my knowledge, that such an act has occurred in the Principality."29th Jun22:31 BSTCouncil president expresses 'deep solidarity' with victims and their familyCharles Ange Ginésy, President of the Alpes-Maritimes Council, wrote on X: "In the face of the attack that occurred in Monaco this evening, I express my deep solidarity with the victims, their families, and the people of Monaco."I also extend my support to the security forces and emergency services engaged on the ground."29th Jun22:29 BSTVictims are couple in 50s and 60s - and 13-year-old boyThe victims are a couple in their 50s and 60s, both in critical condition, and a 13-year-old boy "likely connected to the couple" and less seriously injured, Mirmand said.Local sites earlier reported they all came from the same Ukrainian family.‌29th Jun22:25 BST'This is likely an attack...'Monaco's Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, told AFP: "This is likely an attack."The explosive device likely contained bolts and shot, he added. "The police are currently investigating... This is the first time in history, to my knowledge, that such an act has occurred in the Principality."29th Jun22:25 BSTSuspect may have disappeared into France The suspect ran off in the direction of Beausolei which is just over the border in France, says a British resident in Monaco.Talking to The Mirror she explained: "The road where the explosion happened is about 20 minutes away from where we are and he has gone to the neighbouring town of Beausolei which is just over the border into France basically."So I imagine has has just disappeared into France. A lot of people live there and maybe spend their lives in Monaco because it is cheaper there."29th Jun22:21 BST'Commotion' at Monaco police station after blastA British resident living in Monaco has told of the "commotion" at the police station following the explosion.She told The Mirror: "We live next door to the police station so we are overlooking it. It all began at around 9pm when we saw lots of police in the street. First of all we heard a big commotion outside and then there was a procession of police cars heading off.“Everything is on high alert at the police station. There are now two armed police outside who are being ultra-cautious, they are checking everyone who is going past.”According to local reports the suspect fled towards the neighbouring town of Beausoleil, which the Brit explained “is just over the border into France”.They added: “I imagine he has just disappeared into France.”‌29th Jun22:18 BST'We stand with the victims of this tragedy' says councillorNational Councillor and lawyer Régis Bergonzi shared a photo from the scene saying "we stand with the victims of this tragedy".He wrote on Instagram: "Big explosion in Monaco tonight near plaza des Moulins, after our legislative session."We all stand with the victims of this tragedy, their families, and our emergency services—firefighters and police officers—who responded in record time to provide assistance."Content cannot be displayed without consent29th Jun22:11 BSTTwo victims in critical conditionMonaco prosecutor Thibault Stéphane told Le Figaro that two of the victims are in critical condition. He added that bomb disposal experts and judicial police officers are on the scene.The site also reported that the victims were Ukrainian and all from the same family.29th Jun22:04 BST'Red plan' activated after Monaco explosionAccording to a police source speaking to BFMTV, the "red plan" has been activated in Monaco.The red plan is "a pre-established action strategy for a sudden event resulting in, or likely to result in, numerous casualties. It allows for a gradual increase in resources depending on the number of victims", according to the website of the Principality of Monaco.‌‌