Marianna Budanova is the wife of Lt General Kyrylo Budanov, who has already survived multiple assassination attempts.
The wife of Ukraine’s intelligence chief is undergoing treatment after allegedly being poisoned with heavy metals.
Marianna Budanova is the wife of Lt General Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, known as the GUR.
The agency has been prominently involved in clandestine operations against Russian forces since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.
“Yes, I can confirm the information, unfortunately, it is true,” Andriy Yusov, the GUR’s spokesperson, said on Tuesday, when asked if Ms Budanova had been poisoned.
He did not give any further details about when the poisoning took place or who was behind it.
It is thought the poison was likely administered through food, according to local media, as the metals were not used domestically or in military equipment.
Local media reported Ms Budanova is in hospital in Kyiv.
If confirmed as deliberate, it would represent the most serious targeting of a high-profile Ukrainian leadership figure’s family member during the 21-month conflict.
Several other GUR officials were also diagnosed with the same poisoning.
Mr Budanov, 37, is reported to have survived 10 assassination attempts carried out by the Russian state security service.