Russia destroys communication, intelligence centers in Vinnitsa: MoD

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The Russian armed forces have destroyed Ukrainian communication and intelligence centers in Vinnitsa, Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said Wednesday.

"On the morning of March 16, high-precision long-range weapons struck at the military infrastructure of Ukraine. As a result, communications, intelligence, relaying, and switching centers in the settlement of Vinnitsa were disabled," Konashenkov told a press briefing. 

The spokesperson also noted that Moscow would expose any attempts by the Ukrainian forces to use toxic substances.

His words come after the US state department admitted that their eastern European ally had biological research facilities.

Ukraine has biological research facilities, and the United States is concerned that they could come under the control of the Russian forces, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said last week as the Russian forces made further advances into Ukraine ahead of their ceasefire.

"Ukraine has biological research facilities, which, in fact, we are now quite concerned Russian forces may be seeking to gain control of," Nuland said during a Senate hearing.

"I will add that among the combat documentation captured by us in the 4th brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard, there is a detailed map of the territory of Ukraine with objects marked on it and types of stored poisonous substances," Konashenkov said. 

He also commented on footage allegedly showing killed people in Chernihiv by saying Russia had no soldiers located there.

"I want to emphasize that there was no Russian military personnel in Chernihiv, and there are none," he stressed.

"All units of the Russian armed forces are outside Chernihiv, blocking the roads, and they are not conducting any offensive operations against the city," the spokesperson told the press briefing.