US-made biolabs in Ukraine complicit in deadly pathogens transfer

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The Pentagon-funded, Pentagon-made biological research in Ukraine is aimed at creating a covert mechanism to spread deadly pathogens, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday.

The documents received from biolabs revealed that the US planned to conduct work on pathogens of birds, bats, and reptiles in Ukraine in 2022 and further study the possibility of their transmission of African swine fever and anthrax.

Read more: Beijing: US is spreading COVID-19 through its military bases

The official information on the implementation of the US project in Ukraine to study the transfer of viruses by wild birds moving between Ukraine and Russia, as well as other adjacent countries, piqued the official's attention.

"The purpose of this and other Pentagon-funded biological research in Ukraine was to create a mechanism for the covert spread of deadly pathogens," Konashenkov told reporters.

The biolaboratories conducted experiments with samples of the coronavirus from bats, the official added.

The Russian Defense Ministry will soon publish the documents received from Ukrainian biolaboratories staff, as well as the results of their examination, the spokesman said.

Moscow obtains documents proving transfer of human biomaterials from Ukraine to abroad at US' commands

Russian military specialists obtained documents confirming the transfer of human biomaterials taken in Ukraine to foreign countries on Washington's instructions, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday.

Russian specialists from the nuclear, biological, and chemical protection troops studied documents on the transfer of human biomaterials taken in Ukraine to foreign countries, upon a US request, Konashenkov told reporters.

"In the near future, we will publish the next package of documents received from Ukrainian employees of biological laboratories and present the results of their examination," he said.

Moreover,  the United States is concerned that the Russian forces will reach the labs, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said Tuesday as the Russian forces make 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.

According to the Under Secretary, Washington is working with Kiev on how they can prevent any of those research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces "should they approach".

Data in Ukraine confirms BTWC claims against US

Earlier, data on biological laboratories found in Ukraine confirms the claims against the United States regarding its compliance with the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

"Documentation was received from employees of Ukrainian biological laboratories on the emergency destruction of especially dangerous pathogens of plague, anthrax, tularemia, cholera, and other deadly diseases on February 24. The emergency destruction of especially dangerous pathogens on February 24 was required to prevent the disclosure of facts of violations by Ukraine and the United States of Article I of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC)," Zakharova said in a statement.

The day before, Russian forces found 30 biological laboratories in Ukraine, possibly used to develop biological weapons.

"The Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly drawn attention to the military biological programs that are being implemented by the Pentagon in post-Soviet countries, including on the territory of Ukraine, where a network of more than 30 biological laboratories has been formed, which can be divided into research and sanitary-epidemiological ones," Kirillov said.