Budanov gave an interview to Telegraph: he spoke about his wife’s condition after poisoning and changes in DIU
The Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, said that he had ten attempts on his life and that his wife, who was poisoned with heavy metals, was feeling better.
He said this in an interview with the British newspaper Telegraph. Some details that were not included in the version on the publication’s website were distributed by Budanov on Telegram.
About changes in the DIU
Since the beginning of the war, the staff at the Defense Intelligence has been significantly increased, Budanov said. Combat, operational-combat units and technical reconnaissance were subject to maximum increase. Cyber intelligence has also been significantly strengthened.
Due to the growth in the volume of information received, the Ukrainian intelligence service strengthened its analytical direction and introduced new services based on artificial intelligence for technical data processing.
About help from the West to the DIU
According to Budanov, “special agencies from Western countries” are helping Ukraine track Russian spies who are looking for weapons provided to Kyiv by NATO and other countries.
Ukraine, as the Chief of the Defense Intelligence says, makes extensive use of the opportunities provided by the intelligence agencies of partner countries. For example, information about missile launches from borders that Ukraine cannot cover with existing electronic and electronic reconnaissance means is often critically important. This help is invaluable, says Budanov.
About the role of Ukrainian agents
Budanov noted the serious role of agents in the process of confrontation with Russia. He says that during the war they were entrusted with the task of “not only receiving information, but also carrying out special active measures”. Thanks to human intelligence, Ukraine was able to obtain advance information about the Russian attack on February 24, 2022.
“If we relied solely on electronic, radio engineering or cyber intelligence data, then we would not be prepared, we would not understand that an invasion would occur, and we would not have time to prepare,” he noted.
About guerrillas in the Russian Federation
Asked about partisan movements in Russia, Budanov, who claims to have survived 10 known assassination attempts, said: “It is clear that during war, intelligence is responsible not only for collecting data, but also for conducting special operations.”
According to the chief of intelligence, working with large groups of people who can be called partisans is only a small part of the activities of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. Budanov says that Ukraine helps them, supports them, interacts with them and sometimes asks them to complete certain tasks. But this is not as widespread a phenomenon as it seems, Budanov added.
About the assassination attempt on his wife
Budanov said his wife Marianna Budanova is feeling better after being poisoned by heavy metals in 2023. The intelligence chief stressed that he knows who is responsible for the attack.
“These things take time to resolve. Over time, everyone will see what this means,” Budanov said. The Telegraph interprets this as saying that Budanov “promised to take revenge on Russia for the poisoning of his wife.”