U.S. Denies Russian Accusation of Being Involved in Biowarfare Labs Operated in Ukraine

On March 9, the U.S. dismissed claims that Washington is involved in biowarfare labs in Ukraine. The U.S. termed the claims laughable, saying Moscow may be preparing to use a chemical or biological weapon. 

(Photo : NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

Reaction to Russia's Claims

Late Tuesday night, Russia reiterated its long-standing charge that the United States is collaborating with Ukrainian laboratories to develop biological weapons, according to Reuters.

Russian media made more of these claims in the days leading up to Moscow's military incursion into Ukraine, and foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made one on Wednesday. 

John Kirby's Irish Catholic grandfather used to call the Russian accusations a bunch of malarkey, because they are so absurd and laughable. Basically, there's nothing else to say about it. Russian propaganda at its finest, John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, said on Wednesday. 

According to Ned Price, the State Department spokesperson, Russia is creating false pretexts"to justify its actions in Ukraine.

To which she responded on Twitter that it is Russia that has long and well documented track record of using chemical weapons, including in attempted assassinations and poisoning of Putin's political enemies like Alexey Navalny.

According to Price, it is Russia that has false claims. It is Russia that uses chemical weapons, she added.

The Russian embassy in Washington, D.C., did not respond to the American assertions on Wednesday. Russia has denied any involvement in the assassination of Navalny. 

Also Read: Scientists Track Radioactive Dangers After Russia Attack Chernobyl Plant in Ukraine

Ukraine's Effort to Alleviate the Threats of Deadly Diseases 

According to Russia's Zakharova, the Ukrainian health ministry had ordered the destruction of plague, cholera and anthrax samples before Russian forces entered Ukraine on February 24. 

Russian forces unearthed documents showing an emergency effort to erase evidence of military biological programs financed by the Pentagon, according to Zakharova. She gave no further information about the documents she had. There was no way for Reuters to verify her claims. 

As per US News, Ukraine categorically denies any such allegation, an Ukrainian presidential spokesperson said. It is not uncommon for public health laboratories in other countries to conduct research on diseases that affect both humans and animals, just like in the United States and Europe. U.S. funding, European Union funding, and World Health Organization support go to these facilities. 

Conversion of Ukrainian Laboratories to Public Health Facilities

The Biological Threat Reduction Program of Pentagon has been working with the Ukrainian government to ensure the safety of pathogens and toxins stored in the laboratories.

During the same biowarfare accusations in 2020, the U.S embassy in Kyiv released a statement saying that its involvement was to ensure that dangerous pathogens do not fall into the wrong hands. 

According to a former US official with knowledge of the cooperation between Kiev and Washington, the US assisted in the conversion of several Ukrainian laboratories involved in the former Soviet Union's biological weapons program into public health facilities.

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