KYIV (Reuters) – The wife of the head of Ukrainian military intelligence was the victim of heavy metal poisoning, several Ukrainian media reported on Tuesday, citing sources within the security services.
“Yes, I can confirm the information. Unfortunately it is true,” Andriy Yusov, an official with GUR, Ukraine’s military intelligence, later told Reuters.
Marianna Boudanova is the wife of Kirilo Boudanov, who heads the GUR, involved in numerous clandestine operations against Russian forces since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.
According to the Babel information site, citing an anonymous source, Marianna Boudanova is completing treatment in hospital against the effects of this poisoning.
Ukrainska Pravda cites a source as saying the poison was administered in food and adds that several other GUR members were poisoned.
No media specify whether this poisoning could be deliberate or where it occurred.
According to Russian media, Kirilo Boudanov is being prosecuted by Russian justice for terrorism charges.
Russian authorities have blamed Ukrainian secret services for the murder in Russia of a Russian military blogger and a pro-war journalist. Kyiv has denied any involvement.
(Max Hunder, Tom Balmforth, Jean-Stéphane Brosse for the French version, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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