Ukraine says spy chief Kyrylo Budanov’s wife is being treated for poisoning with heavy metals
- Marianna Budanova is treated for heavy metal toxicity, in what Ukrainian investigators suspect was a targeted attack
- Her husband heads military intelligence agency GUR, which has been involved in clandestine operations against Russian forces
The wife of Ukraine’s intelligence chief has been diagnosed with heavy metals poisoning and is undergoing treatment in a hospital, a spokesperson for the agency said on Tuesday as the country’s war with Russia stretched into its 22nd month.
Marianna Budanova is the wife of Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the military intelligence agency that is known in Ukrainian as GUR for short. Her condition was confirmed to Associated Press by Andrii Yusov, the agency’s spokesman.
Yusov did not provide more details about the alleged poisoning, nor did he say if it was believed to have been intended for Budanov or whether Russia was thought to be behind it.
Earlier this year, he told Ukrainian media that military intelligence chief had survived 10 assassination attempts carried out by the Russian state security service, or FSB.
Budanov’s influential military intelligence unit is considered responsible for several sabotage attacks against Russia that have taken place behind the front lines.