Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), says Ukrainian intelligence does have the capability to eavesdrop on senior Russian officials.
In a response to an RBC-Ukraine correspondent, Gen. Budanov confirmed Ukrainian intelligence can monitor Kremlin officials.
Asked whether GUR can intercept conversations among top Kremlin figures, Budanov replied: “We can, yes. We get paid for that.”
The remarks come amid media reports suggesting possible Ukrainian involvement in the leak of conversations between Putin aide Yuri Ushakov and special envoy Kirill Dmitriev that previously surfaced in Western media.
The Wall Street Journal cited a member of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration who said a “foreign intelligence” service was behind the leak, without specifying which.
Meanwhile, if the eavesdropping concerned Russian officials who held talks with White House representative Steve Witkoff, that would imply Ukrainian intelligence is “getting paid” for listening to senior American officials as well.
Ushakov himself has acknowledged that eavesdropping and leaks are common in politics. However, in the case of the conversation with Steve Witkoff, he warned it threatens to damage the relationship Moscow has built with Washington.
