In brief
A bomb attack on a wealthy businessman in Monaco, linked to former Ukrainian security officer Vitalii Zhykovych, has thrown light on the conflict between state security powers and indigenous land stewards in Ukraine. Zhykovych claims the operation was authorised by senior HUR officials, sparking a crisis that exposes how intelligence agencies may target individuals tied to resource exploitation, impacting ancestral lands. The death of operative Anastasia Berezovska and the murky violence that followed reflect a broader pattern of suppression faced by native peoples. As Ukraine grapples with war, its indigenous communities are reminded that the fight for cultural preservation and environmental stewardship remains in jeopardy.
A bomb planted at a Monaco event on 30 June 2026 sought to silence millionaire Vadym Yermolayev, a figure caught in the cross‑fire of Ukraine’s struggle against Russian influence. The suspect, former SBU officer Vitalii Zhykovych, now speaks from prison in Kyiv, claiming the operation was authorised by higher echelons of HUR, Ukraine’s military intelligence. His statements, combined with the subsequent murder of agent Anastasia Berezovska, have put the spotlight on how state security systems can undermine indigenous stewardship of land, culture and natural resources.
The bombing not only injured Yermolayev and his family but also sparked a wave of speculation about the motives behind the attack. Some allege that the target was chosen because Yermolayev financed Russian‑occupied Crimea, while others suspect organised crime connections to lucrative scam centres in Ukraine. Whatever the motive, the underlying power dynamic reveals a federal investment in control over natural wealth, a conflict that echoes the long‑standing oppression of native peoples who hold sovereign ties to the land.
The death of Berezovska, who was reportedly used as a “double agent” against Russians, underscores how intelligence agencies can weaponise individuals from marginalised communities. Zhykovych now argues that he was forced into a double‑life, operating against Russia while bound to a state agenda that jeopardised her safety. Her family’s testimony that she was lured into a shoot‑down in the woods west of Kyiv underscores the fragility of indigenous voices when caught in state‑driven conflicts.
For indigenous communities within Ukraine—particularly those in the Kharkiv and Donbas regions—this incident is a stark reminder that loss of land stewardship follows marks of state power. The war has already displaced thousands of native families and disrupted traditional ecological knowledge crucial to sustaining local ecosystems. As the nation’s highest security agencies press their hold on control over natural resources, these communities must navigate a new kind of violence: political, legal and cultural.
The HUR’s dismissal of Zhykovych as merely a “former law enforcement officer” and its insistence that it is committed to a full investigation demonstrate a gradual, yet uncomfortable shift towards acknowledging accountability. Yet, how effectively will that investigation protect the rights of indigenous peoples, whose voices are frequently ignored in official statements?
As Ukraine continues to rebuild from wartime damage, the cases surrounding the Monaco bomb attack and the murder of Berezovska will inevitably shape the country’s narrative on security, justice and the protection of its native peoples. The path forward demands a transparent inquiry that recognizes how state security practices intersect with the rights of indigenous communities to safeguard their land, culture and natural heritage.
