Top military intelligence official of Ukraine's wife is hospitalized after reportedly becoming ill from heavy metal poisoning.
Officials from Ukraine and abroad report that the spouse of the country's top military intelligence officer is hospitalized due to what appears to be heavy metal poisoning.
Western officials have been suspicious from the start that Russian agents may have paid off a staff member to carry out the poisoning. Marianna Budanova is the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, whose military intelligence agency GUR has been heavily involved in Ukraine's efforts to drive Russia from its territory.
According to test results, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence staff members have also become ill, and Ukraine is looking into the matter, said agency spokesman Andriy Yusov.
Chief of the toxicology division at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Dr. Edward Boyer, stated that it is impossible to determine the likelihood that any of the victims were purposefully poisoned without knowing more about the test results and patient history, including symptoms and possible food exposure.
It's going to be crucial to identify the actual symptoms. According to Boyer, different metals have varying levels of toxicity. "In addition to the genuine symptoms, it's critical to obtain a history of food consumption and environmental exposure."