The Guardian: killing of Berezovska could cost Ukraine dearly in political terms

The British newspaper The Guardian warns that the killing near Kyiv of Anastasia Berezovska — a suspect in the assassination attempt on Dnipro businessman Vadim Yermolaev — could seriously discredit the Ukrainian authorities in the eyes of their Western partners.

“This scandal could cost Kyiv dearly in political terms. Any evidence linking Ukrainian intelligence officers to a bombing on European soil would cause serious damage to Ukraine. Particularly given that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived on Tuesday at the NATO summit seeking to secure continued Western support,” the article states.

The Guardian also notes that Ukraine imposed sanctions against Yermolaev in 2023. The assassination attempt against him was carried out in Monaco.

Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service reported that Berezovska entered the country on July 1 through one of the border crossing points by legal means. At that time she was not on Interpol’s wanted list.

According to investigators, the two individuals detained in connection with Berezovska’s murder committed the crime after she returned to Ukraine by bus. Both have been charged with premeditated murder. Law enforcement established Berezovska’s social circle and her movements after her return. In particular, she had contacts with two men — a former law enforcement officer and a serving officer of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence. One of the detainees, who is a serving GUR officer, has confessed to the killing.