· Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) officer Vladyslav Reut is charged with the murder of Anastasiia Berezovska.
· Reut initially confessed to the killing and led investigators to Berezovska's grave west of Kyiv.
· During a custody hearing, Reut withdrew his confession and denied shooting Berezovska.
· Reut accused co-defendant Vitalii Zhykovych of carrying out the shooting.
· Zhykovych is a former officer of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU).
· Both men have been charged with premeditated murder.
· Prosecutors allege the two acted jointly and in a coordinated manner.
· Both defendants were denied bail and remain in custody.
· Berezovska was the primary suspect in the attempted assassination of businessman Vadym Yermolayev in Monaco.
· Berezovska entered Ukraine from Poland by bus two days after the Monaco bombing.
· Investigators linked Reut and Zhykovych to Berezovska through phone records.
· Investigators identified cash and cryptocurrency transfers from the two defendants to Berezovska.
· According to Reut's revised statement: Zhykovych asked him to pick up Berezovska.
· Zhykovych carried a modified Makarov pistol.
· Zhykovych ordered Reut to shoot Berezovska.
· Reut refused.
· Zhykovych allegedly shot Berezovska four times.
· Both men buried the body in a forest west of Kyiv.
· Zhykovych allegedly disposed of the firearm and Berezovska's belongings in a nearby lake.
· Reut claims his original confession was made after Zhykovych threatened his family.
· Zhykovych denies involvement in the murder.
· Zhykovych's lawyer rejected Reut's revised account.
· Prosecutors state a possible motive has been identified but has not been disclosed because the investigation is ongoing.
· Prosecutors stated all possible motives remain under investigation.
· President Volodymyr Zelensky said additional information on the case would be released in the coming days.
· Vadym Yermolayev is a businessman who made his wealth in cognac and real estate.
· Yermolayev renounced Ukrainian citizenship.
· Ukraine sanctioned Yermolayev for continuing business activities in Russian-occupied Crimea after its annexation.
· The motive for the Monaco bombing has not been publicly established.
· No evidence has been presented linking the case to Russia, although investigators have not ruled out any theories. ← Back to Fiveo1