Marianna Budanova, wife of Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of Ukrainian military intelligence, is reportedly suffering from heavy metal poisoning, according to Ukrainian media reports cited by Reuters.
The incident comes in the wake of the Russian government's announcement of its intent to press terrorism charges against Budanov and three other military officials. The charges are related to drone strikes on Russian territory and areas of Ukraine currently under Russian control.
The identity of the individual or group responsible for the alleged poisoning remains uncertain, as does the precise timing of the incident. An anonymous source quoted by the Ukrainian media outlet Babel, as reported by Reuters, revealed that Budanova is currently hospitalized and undergoing treatment for the poisoning.
Furthermore, Ukrainska Pravda, another Ukrainian media outlet, cited a source who suggested that the poison was likely introduced into Budanova's food. The same source also indicated that other members of Ukraines military intelligence agency have been victims of similar poisoning incidents, as added by Reuters.
Budanov, a central figure in covert operations against Russian forces during the ongoing conflict, had previously declared his intent to "keep killing Russians anywhere on the face of this world until the complete victory of Ukraine."
In early October, Russia identified Budanov, along with Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk, Ukrainian Naval Forces Commander Oleksiy Neizhpapa, and 383rd Unmanned Aviation Brigade Commander Serhiy Burdenyuk, as the military officials facing terrorism charges.
The Ukrainian military has been utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles to carry out strikes within Russian borders, thereby extending the conflict beyond the immediate frontline. Russia, too, has employed drone technology in the conflict, targeting military installations and infrastructure assets, including grain facilities.
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