The SBU confirmed that the suspect in the Berezovskaya case had ties to the agency
The Security Service of Ukraine has confirmed that Vitaliy Zhikovich, a suspect in the murder of Anastasia Berezovskaya, was an official freelance collaborator with the agency for some time. The SBU emphasized that he was not a full-time employee of the agency, did not have access to covert operations, and has had no connection to the security service since April 2026.
The Security Service of Ukraine confirmed that Vitaliy Zhikovych, who is suspected in the murder of Anastasia Berezovskaya, was an unofficial, non-staff collaborator with the SBU. This was reported in a response to an inquiry from journalists with the “Schemes” project (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty).
The security service clarified that Zhikovych was recruited at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. He held this status until April 2026. After that, according to the SBU, all ties between him and the service were severed. At the same time, the agency emphasized that Zhikovich was never a full-time employee of the SBU.
What His Status Meant
In response to an inquiry, the SBU explained that Vitaliy Zhikovych did not perform military service in the Security Service of Ukraine and did not work there under an employment contract. “The individual you mentioned is not listed among the military personnel or employees who have entered into an employment contract with the Security Service of Ukraine, and in previous years, he did not serve in the military or work at the SBU,” the agency stated.
At the same time, the security service confirmed that after the start of the full-scale war, he cooperated with the SBU as a former officer of one of Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies. “However, at the start of the full-scale invasion, as a former officer of one of Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies, he held the status of an open, non-staff collaborator with the SBU,” the response noted.
The SBU explained what powers Zhykovych had
The security service emphasized that the status of a freelance collaborator did not grant Zhikovych broad powers or access to classified information. According to the SBU, such individuals are not part of the service’s personnel and cannot independently conduct operational-search, counterintelligence, or investigative activities. “They are not part of the Service’s personnel and do not carry out operational activities on their own,” the agency explained.
The SBU also clarified: “They are not authorized to conduct operational-investigative, counterintelligence, or investigative activities, nor do they make relevant procedural or administrative decisions.” In addition, the security service reported that Zhykovych did not receive any government payments for performing his duties.
What is known about the case
Earlier, journalists from “Schemes,” while investigating the case of the attempted assassination of Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaev—who is subject to sanctions—and his family in Monaco, as well as the murder of Anastasia Berezovskaya, established that until 2020, Vitaliy Zhikovych had worked as a police officer in the Kyiv region. After the investigation was published, the journalists contacted the SBU to find out whether Zhikovych had been an employee of the security service. In response, the agency confirmed only that he had served as a registered freelance collaborator from the start of the full-scale invasion until April 2026.
At the same time, the SBU specifically emphasized that after April 2026, Zhikovych “had no connection whatsoever to the Security Service of Ukraine.” The investigation is currently ongoing, and law enforcement officials continue to establish all the circumstances surrounding the murder of Anastasia Berezovskaya. The SBU reported this in response to a request from “Schemes” (a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty project).
The suspects in the murder of Anastasia Berezovskaya told investigators that the woman may have been linked not only to the assassination attempt on businessman Vadim Yermolayev in Monaco but also to other operations. Those involved in the case have begun cooperating with investigators and are providing testimony regarding possible details of the planning of the explosion and the events that followed.
Relatives of Anastasia Berezovskaya, who was suspected of involvement in the attempted assassination of businessman Vadim Yermolayev in Monaco, stated that she returned to Ukraine because she wanted to see her seven-year-old son.
