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Marianna Budanova, the wife of Ukraine’s intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, has been hospitalized with heavy metals poisoning amid the ongoing war with Russia.

The diagnosis was confirmed to The Associated Press by Andrii Yusov, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, GUR. Yusov, however, did not specify the circumstances of the poisoning or suggest potential perpetrators. This development follows earlier reports that Budanov had survived multiple assassination attempts attributed to Russia’s state security service, the FSB. Budanov had previously mentioned that his wife lives with him in his office, raising suspicions that he might have been the intended target.

The case has garnered attention, with Russian media and commentators speculating on the possibility of internal conflicts within Ukraine. According to local media sources, Budanova is currently receiving medical treatment in Kyiv. The specific type of heavy metals involved in the poisoning has not been disclosed, but it is believed that these metals are not commonly found in domestic or military contexts, suggesting a deliberate act.

Additionally, several other personnel from GUR are reported to have suffered similar symptoms, as per the local newspaper Ukrainska Pravda. GUR is expected to release an official statement with further details on the incident.

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