Russia Revives Ukraine Biolab Claims After US Cites 120 Labs in 30 Countries
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Post · Jun 19
Russia Revives Ukraine Biolab Claims After US Cites 120 Labs in 30 Countries
1 articles · Updated · Kyiv Post · Jun 19
Summary
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it obtained new wartime documents that it claims show US-linked biological research in Ukraine was geared toward military use, not public health.
Lt. Gen. Alexei Rtishchev tied the alleged work to a 2005 US-Ukraine cooperation agreement and said Ukrainian labs stored pathogens including cholera, tularemia and brucellosis, with some research kept secret from local staff.
The renewed accusations followed a June 12 disclosure by outgoing US DNI Tulsi Gabbard that the US has supported more than 120 biological laboratories in over 30 countries, including Ukraine, and that some sites handling dangerous pathogens could be vulnerable during the war.
Gabbard’s statement cited earlier intelligence warnings about risks to a US-funded lab in Ukraine but did not allege biological weapons activity; Russia says the material proves a Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention breach.
Ukraine, the US and independent experts have rejected the claims since 2022, saying the labs are civilian biosafety and disease-monitoring facilities, and no international investigation has found evidence of a Ukrainian bioweapons program.