In a shocking revelation, the wife of Ukraine’s military spy chief, Marianna Budanova, has been poisoned with heavy metals, according to the Kyiv government.
Marianna, the spouse of Kyrylo Budanov, is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, GUR.
GUR spokesperson Andriy Yusov confirmed the unfortunate incident, stating, “Yes, I can confirm the information. Unfortunately, it is true,” in response to inquiries from Reuters on Tuesday.
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However, details regarding when the poisoning occurred and who might be responsible remain undisclosed.
Kyrylo Budanov has gained prominence in Ukraine for his pivotal role in planning covert operations against Russia, particularly in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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Andriy Yusov previously revealed this year that Budanov had miraculously survived 10 assassination attempts orchestrated by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
While it is still unclear who is behind the suspected poisoning of Marianna Budanova, Yusov indicated that other GUR officials have exhibited milder poisoning symptoms.
The situation adds to the existing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with accusations and counter-accusations of espionage and violence.
Russia, no stranger to allegations of poisoning dissidents, has faced international scrutiny for incidents involving figures like politician Alexey Navalny and two Russian exiles who attended a summit in Berlin organized by a critic of Russia.
Moscow, in turn, has accused Ukraine of involvement in the killings of a pro-war Russian blogger and a pro-war journalist on Russian soil—an accusation that Ukraine vehemently denies.
The poisoning of Marianna Budanova comes at a time when the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with Russia’s invasion on February 24 resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and the displacement of millions.
The international community watches closely as this latest incident unfolds, further complicating the geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe.
