Sky News: Poisoning of Ukrainian spy chief’s wife was likely “attempt on her life by Russia,” says foreign minister

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said he believes the poisoning of the wife of the head of the chief Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Marianna Budanova, was an "attempt on her life" by Russia, Sky News has reported. According to sources from the Ukrainian intelligence agency, the wife of Kyrylo Budanov was poisoned with heavy metals. After a prolonged deterioration in her health, Marianna Budanova was hospitalized with heavy metal poisoning. Currently, she is under medical supervision after the end of the treatment course.

Wife of Ukraine’s intel chief allegedly poisoned

"It makes sense to assume that it was an attempt, it's an attempt on her life because we know that Russia previously had tried to assassinate Budanov himself," Kuleba said at the NATO meeting in Brussels. 

In an interview with Radio Liberty, the head of the Chief Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, said that his wife Marianna lives with him in his office, although she does not work in the Chief Intelligence Directorate. Earlier this year, the Ukrainian spy agency's spokesperson said Budanov had survived 10 assassination attempts carried out by the Russian state security service. Read also:

• Interior Minister: 10 lives lost, 23 injured in Ukraine following severe snowfall
• “Ukraine is doing everything to strengthen the fight against corruption,” EU official says
• General Staff: Ukraine repels 26 Russian attacks near Bakhmut within 24 hours