Ukraine spy chief's wife poisoned, says Kyiv

Additional employees from the agency have also shown mild symptoms of poisoning, although the exact number was not specified. It was not mentioned in Ukrainian media reports whether Russia was suspected of orchestrating the alleged attack. 

No evidence or suggestions were made that Gen Budanov himself was targeted. Gen Budanov, who holds a significant role in planning and occasionally carrying out major military operations against Russian forces following the country's full-scale invasion in February 2022, was unaffected by the incident. 

A Ukrainian intelligence source previously informed that Mrs. Budanova is currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital after falling ill. 

Mrs Budanova, who was reportedly poisoned, has been taken to the hospital after feeling unwell for a considerable amount of time, as reported by News website Babel, which was the first to break the news. Babel, citing its own sources within Ukrainian intelligence, stated that she is currently undergoing treatment and will be closely monitored by doctors. 

The type of heavy metal suspected in the poisoning has not yet been disclosed, although an unidentified official emphasized that these substances are not commonly used in everyday life or military operations. After conducting tests, Ukrainska Pravda confirmed the poisoning and stated that Mrs Budanova was likely given poisoned food, but is now feeling better after completing an initial round of treatment. 

Furthermore, according to Ukraine's Unian news agency, Mrs Budanova is being treated in a hospital within Ukraine rather than seeking treatment abroad. 

Mrs Budanova, who was born in 1993 in Kyiv, holds a master's degree in psychology. She later became involved into politics and served as an adviser to the mayor of Kyiv. Additionally, she volunteered at Kyiv's military hospital from 2015 to 2017, as mentioned in her interview with Elle magazine in 2022.

Lt Gen Budanov, age 37, disclosed to the War Zone website in September that both he and his wife had been occupying his office for safety reasons since the invasion that occurred in February 2022.
Marianna, referred to as a professor at the national police academy, specializes in teaching legal psychology, which she finds unproblematic despite circumstances that may affect others.

According to Mr Yusov, Gen Budanov has been the target of more than 10 assassination attempts, as he shared with Ukrainska Pravda earlier this year. 

According to BBC.