Wife Of Intelligence Chief Was Poisoned, Says Ukraine

Kyrylo Budanov and his wife Marianna attend a memorial ceremony for a Ukrainian interior minister in January

- ILLIA NOVIKOV, ALASTAIR JAMIESON

The wife of Ukraine's intelligence chief has been diagnosed with heavy metals poisoning and is undergoing treatment in hospital, it emerged yesterday. Meanwhile, deadly winter weather has hit the front lines of the conflict with Russia.

Marianna Budanova is the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency known by its local acronym GUR. Her condition was confirmed by Andriy Yusov, the agency’s spokesperson. He did not provide more details about the alleged poisoning, nor did he say if it was believed to have been intended for Mr Budanov or whether Russia was thought to be behind it.

Earlier this year, he told Ukrainian media that the military intelligence chief had survived 10 assassination attempts carried out by the Russian state or federal security services. There was no immediate comment from the Russian government, which has long been suspected of poisoning opponents.