Ukraine Official Says Navalny “Unfortunately” Died of Natural Causes

Kyrylo Budanov, chief of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), confirmed on Sunday that Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny died of natural causes, contradicting Western claims that he was assassinated.

[RELATED: Russian Opposition Leader Dead Under Mysterious Circumstances…]

“I may disappoint you, but as far as we know, he indeed died as a result of a blood clot. And this has been more or less confirmed,” said Budanov.

Earlier this month, Navalny died after collapsing on a walk while serving a 19-year sentence for “extremism” in a Russian prison in the Arctic Circle.

Western leaders were quick to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin for Navalny’s death, accusing him of assassinating the imprisoned politician.

Following Navalny’s death, Russia urged Western leaders to show restraint, and wait for further information before issuing condemnations.

President Joe Biden was among the leaders quick to accuse Putin of murdering Navalny, and used that accusation in an attempt to push Congress to give Ukraine more money.

“But Make no mistake. Putin is responsible for this death,” said President Biden on X.

Biden also used the death as a pretext to unleash a new round of sanctions against various aspects of the Russian economy and military.

[RELATED: Biden Touts More Sanctions on Russia Following Navalny Death…]

Russia has denied claims that Navalny was murdered, instead blaming his death on a blood clot.

Western leaders were unconvinced by Russian claims, but now Ukrainian intelligence has reluctantly confirmed the Kremlin’s claims.

Budanov seemed disappointed in his discovery, calling it “unfortunate” that Navalny died of natural causes, suggesting that Ukraine would have preferred him to have been assassinated.

Ukraine’s announcement came shortly after Navalny’s body was released into the custody of his mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, after it was held by Russian officials for a week after his death.