Ukraine's Intelligence Chief Budanov says he knows who is behind his wife's poisoning

Budanov said this in an interview with the French newspaper Libération, Babel reports. 

In response to a direct question about who was involved in the poisoning of Marianna Budanova, the head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine replied: "Of course I know". He noted that his wife is now feeling better. 

"Since I did not swallow the poison, it is difficult for me to say whether it was an attempt on my life. But I have already survived many attempts and will probably survive many more," he said. 

Budanov said that the "retaliatory actions" would take place on the territory of the Russian Federation. 

"I think that in the near future you will see retaliatory actions on Russian territory, and everyone will understand this," the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate added. 

• On 8 November 2023, it became known that Kyrylo Budanov's wife had been poisoned. Andriy Yusov confirmed that she was in hospital, but that her life was not in danger. According to media reports, Marianna Budanova could have been poisoned with mercury and arsenic.
• The Centre for Countering Disinformation published fakes that Russia spread on 28 November 2023. In particular, that President's office allegedly fears that Budanov and his wife will enter politics.
• The Bellingcat team announced that it would conduct its own investigation into the poisoning of Budanov's wife, independent of the Main Intelligence Directorate.