Russia nudges toward Avdiivka coking plant – DW – 11/28/2023

Ukrainian media outlets are reporting that Marianna Budanova, the wife of the country’s intelligence chief, has been poisoned with heavy metals.

If confirmed as deliberate, the alleged poisoning would be the most serious targeting of a top Ukrainian leadership figure’s family member since Russia launched the war in February last year.

Budanova is the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, who leads Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency. The GUR has been prominently involved in secret operations against Moscow’s forces during the 21-month war.

Budanov enjoys a high public profile in Ukraine, where he is portrayed as a mastermind of Kyiv’s efforts to strike back at Russia.

Reports did not suggest who was behind the alleged poisoning or clarify when it took place.

The media outlet Babel cited an unnamed source as saying Budanova had been in a hospital where she had been treated for the effects of the poisoning. 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he is “confident” that the United States will keep up weapons deliveries to Ukraine.

His comments come despite opposition in Washington from hardline Republicans throwing into question the future of US assistance.

The US has provided over $40 billion (more than €36 billion) in security aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and the White House has pledged to back Kyiv for as long as necessary. 

“I’m confident that the United States will continue to provide support because it is in the security interest of the United States to do so and it’s also in line with what we have agreed,” Stoltenberg said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

There are mounting concerns about the future of Western backing for Ukraine, with Kyiv’s top general admitting that the fierce fighting has ground to a “stalemate.”

The European Union is also struggling to agree on a plan on its own long-term support for arming Ukraine amid opposition from Hungary. 

“I urge allies and allies are also committed to continue to deliver support,” Stoltenberg said, highlighting some €10 billion pledged recently by Germany and the Netherlands.

Russian forces have made some small advances in eastern Ukraine that brought them closer to the coking and chemical plant, the UK Ministry of Defence says.

In its daily report, the ministry says Russian forces edged further forward on the northern axis of a pincer movement in their effort to surround the Donbas town of Avdiivka.

The ministry says Moscow’s troops have moved the frontline forward up to 2 kilometers (about 1.25 miles) in the area since the start of October.

“Although modest, this advance likely represents one of the greatest Russian gains since spring 2023,” said the report. “It has cost the units involved thousands of casualties.”

“This operation is gradually bringing Russian troops closer to the Avdiivka coke and chemical plant, where Ukrainian forces maintain one of their main defensive positions,” it added.

The ministry said that although the Russians have forced a bulge in the Ukrainian front line, Kyiv remains in control of a corridor of territory approximately 7 kilometers wide, through which it continues to supply the town.

rc/fb (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)