Marianna Budanova, wife of the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, gave a detailed interview on the show "Tour with the Stars" (published by the entertainment project Styler by RBC-Ukraine) about her family life, leisure time, and daily habits. The spouse of Kyrylo Budanov revealed who cooks more often, how they find time for each other despite a packed schedule, and what mechanisms they use to avoid serious conflicts. According to her, they have shared a significant professional journey over the years of their life together, and mutual support remains the foundation of their marriage.
From the "Odessa–Kyiv" train to a shared professional path
Marianna recalled the beginning of their relationship: the couple met on August 17, 2013, on the "Odessa–Kyiv" train. Back then, Kyrylo held the rank of captain, and she did not yet know that his work was related to the military. "I always remember when we met, he was a captain at the time. A lot of time has passed, including our professional growth — we walk through life together, supporting each other and finding time," she shared. The relationship quickly became serious, and soon the couple started living together, although Budanov had to be persistent with his marriage proposal: Marianna turned him down several times. "I knew it would be forever, but I held my ground," she later joked. The lovers married on October 25, 2014, although Kyrylo himself considers the day they met as the starting point of their shared story.
Cooking as therapy and "culinary conflicts"
One of the vivid domestic themes is both spouses' love for cooking. Kyrylo, according to his wife, loves to cook himself, but Marianna does not always give up her spot at the stove. "Kyrylo Oleksiyovych loves to cook very much. I don't always give him that opportunity because I love it myself; it's a kind of reflection and therapy after a hard day at work," she explained. Household duties are not assigned exclusively to one person: the husband cooks as well. Thus, the kitchen has become both a shared hobby and a playful excuse for friendly "competition.".
A psychologist in the family: how to smooth things over
Marianna did not disclose details of specific family disputes but explained how they manage to find common ground. She is a psychologist by training, and according to her, this helps her understand how to smooth over rough edges in their relationship. It is also important that over the years of marriage, Kyrylo has come to know her character and temperament well. "I am a psychologist and I understand how to smooth over those rough edges. And over all these years of our life together, my husband also understands me, my type of temperament, and my character," she noted. The couple, she says, tries to consider each other's needs, compromise, and find common ground.
Simple rituals of intimacy
Despite their tight schedules, the couple manages to find time for rest, which does not necessarily require special events or trips. "Spouses can have dinner together or watch a movie—these are the very ordinary moments that help them maintain intimacy," she said. The main principle she identifies as crucial for harmony is the mutual desire to make the loved one happy: "If you love a person, you try to please them, to meet them halfway in a way that is understandable to that specific person," Kyrylo Budanov's wife concluded.
First date chronicle: flowers, Zweig, and scales
A separate touch to their relationship portrait is the details of their first date. Kyrylo arrived not only with flowers but also with a Stefan Zweig book and kitchen scales: he remembered that she was interested in the writer's work and exercised. This attentive gesture essentially reflected how the pair builds relationships—through attention to the partner's interests and character. The story of Marianna and Kyrylo Budanov, which began on a train more than ten years ago, stands today as an example of how joint professional growth and simple daily rituals help maintain closeness even under a high-pressure schedule.
