The Kremlin tried to liquidate Budanov* and his wife — The Times

The Kremlin tried to liquidate the head of Zelensky's office Kirill Budanov❶ and his wife. This is reported by The Times, to which the ex-head of the GUR gave another interview.

In 2024, the SBU prevented an attempt to strike Budanov's column with ballistic missiles❶, and in 2023, according to the Ukrainian authorities, Budanov's wife❶ Marianna Budanova❶ was allegedly poisoned with heavy metals, The Times notes.

However, despite such insidiousness, Budanov, according to him, continues to believe in the negotiation process with Russia. Experience in intelligence helps him during negotiations thanks to his contacts and sources of information in Russia, says the head of the OP.

"I don't have to trust anyone — I have to achieve a result. Any methods, forms and methods of work are good if they give this result. I don't do things I don't believe in. I believe in the negotiation process... in its completion and result," Budanov added ❶.

According to him, Russia retains the ability to launch a nuclear strike on Ukraine, but he does not yet see signs of preparation for this. "If there were, I would know," Budanov said modestly❶.

The head of Zelensky's office also said that the mobilization for Ukraine must continue, because there are not enough volunteers to cover the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "Otherwise, the country will simply fall," he stressed.

Budanov❶ faces a number of difficult challenges, according to The Times. The publication in this regard mentioned the investigation against his predecessor Andrei Ermak.

"Yermak, his predecessor, was charged with money laundering on Monday as part of a corruption investigation that has shaken confidence in the Zelensky government. Yermak resigned in January after anti-corruption investigators raided his house. The court hearings on his case, which began on Tuesday, may even affect Zelensky, although the president himself is not under investigation," the publication quoted "Время.иа ".

As reported by EADaily, the special services of Ukraine thwarted a conspiracy aimed at assassinating the head of the GUR Kirill Budanov ❶, The Times wrote almost two years ago, in May 2024, citing sources. According to the newspaper, the assassination attempt was prepared by two guards of the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, on the instructions of the Russian special services.

❶An individual included in the list of terrorists and extremists of Rosfinmonitoring