The website of the German media Stern has no articles about Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov falling into a coma and being hospitalized in Germany. In addition, neither the press center, nor the medical service of the Bundeswehr, nor the German Defense Ministry, nor the Berlin police were able to provide any information regarding the hospitalization of the head of Ukrainian intelligence. According to Ukrainian authorities, Kyrylo Budanov is well and performing at his job. In addition, the intelligence office published several videos with the head of intelligence already after the missile attack on Kyiv on May 29. This, according to the Russian media, was the cause of Budanov being seriously injured.
Social media and Russian websites are spreading information that the Ukrainian intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, is allegedly in a coma in one of Berlin’s clinics. Russian media claim that such information was published in the German media Stern. “According to the media publication, they managed to communicate on condition of anonymity with doctors from the hospital where Budanov was brought to. According to them, the Ukrainian intelligence chief has brain damage due to a head injury. Forecasts are negative. Budanov was probably knocked down by wall fragments as a result of the Russian anti-aircraft missile system strike on the intelligence building in Kyiv on May 29, 2023,” the website rusfact.ru writes. Earlier, the RIA Novosti website reported that Budanov was allegedly seriously injured and taken to one of Berlin’s clinics in critical condition.
In reality, there is no article or mention on Stern’s website that Budanov is in a coma and being treated for his injuries in Germany. That is, the “news” about Budanov’s comatose state was once again simply made up by Russian media.
Moreover, as reported by another German website t-online, Berlin also knows nothing about the alleged hospitalization of the Ukrainian intelligence chief. Neither the press center, nor the Bundeswehr medical service, nor the German Defense Ministry could provide any information regarding Kyrylo Budanov’s hospitalization in Germany. “Berlin police also provided no information on this. A police representative said that they do not know anything about it yet. “If we knew anything, we couldn’t confirm it, but we really don’t know anything.” If Budanov has already been in Berlin since the end of May, as RIA Novosti claims, it would have been at least unusual,” t-online notes.
In addition, the Ukrainian side has also repeatedly denied rumors about Kyrylo Budanov being injured as a result of the May 29 Russian missile attack on Kyiv. Russian fake news about Budanov’s injury was commented on by the Ukrainian intelligence representative Andriy Yusov on the air of the national telethon. “Things are great, excellent health, good appetite. 10 minutes ago I was literally talking to the commander. In general, full of plans, full of work, very little free time, and many tasks,” said Yusov. Also, in his daily video message from June 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the intelligence head Budanov was also present at the military cabinet meeting.
Also, immediately after the Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s capital on May 29, Ukrainian military intelligence published a video where Budanov, alive and unharmed, says that Ukraine won’t be intimidated with such terrorist attacks and declares: “I want to upset you: everyone is as always at their workplaces and continue to do their job.” The intelligence office also published another video with Budanov after that. On June 11, they posted footage of a silent Budanov sitting alive and well, and reminded Ukrainians that plans need silence.
Previously, Russian propaganda already spread a similar fake about the Ukrainian Forces Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny being injured. StopFake refuted this and other false reports about Russia’s war in Ukraine in the stories Fake: Ukrainian Forces Chief Valery Zaluzhnyi “Disappears”, Fake: Leopard and Bradley Tanks Pulled Back into Western Ukraine after Serious Losses, Fake: US Reports Heavy Losses in the Ukrainian Counteroffensive.
