Russia claims it found evidence of US-backed bioweapons programme in Ukraine
Russia alleged programme involved research into dangerous pathogens such as plague, anthrax, brucellosis and tularemia. These agents are often classified as potential biological warfare threats because of their ability to spread rapidly and cause severe illness.
Russia is once again pushing allegations of American-backed biological activities in Ukraine, a claim that has remained part of the Kremlin's narrative since the war began in 2022. Russia's Investigative Committee said it had gathered evidence that shows biological research linked to Ukraine's Health Ministry received funding from the US Department of Defense, as per Sputnik India.
Speaking at the International Security Forum, Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko claimed investigators had uncovered material linked to the "development and stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction".
According to her statement, the alleged programme involved research into dangerous pathogens such as plague, anthrax, brucellosis and tularemia. These agents are often classified as potential biological warfare threats because of their ability to spread rapidly and cause severe illness.
WHAT RUSSIA IS CLAIMING
Moscow has repeatedly alleged that Washington secretly funded biological laboratories in Ukraine in violation of international agreements. Russian officials have also claimed that materials linked to the programme were moved out of Ukraine after the start of the military conflict.
Russian authorities say dozens of laboratories in Ukraine were connected to a broader US-backed biological network. Moscow has alleged that these facilities carried out military-biological work under the cover of public health cooperation.
Since the start of the conflict, Russian officials have pointed to documents and research projects they claim prove the existence of secret activities. Among the allegations were claims involving research into pathogens as well as studies connected to migratory birds and bats.
The Kremlin has argued that these programmes posed a direct threat to Russia and accused Western governments of concealing the true purpose of the facilities.
US AND UKRAINE REJECT ALLEGATIONS
The United States and Ukraine had denied the accusations. American officials have repeatedly said the laboratories in question were not weapons facilities but part of public health and disease-monitoring programmes.
The controversy largely centres around a cooperation agreement signed in 2005 between the US Department of Defense and Ukraine's Ministry of Health. Under that arrangement, the US supported efforts to improve laboratory safety, disease surveillance and pathogen security in Ukraine. Funding reportedly helped modernise around 46 laboratories and health facilities across the country.
US officials insist the work focused on preventing outbreaks and securing dangerous biological materials left behind after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The programme formed part of the Cooperative Threat Reduction initiative, also known as the Nunn-Lugar programme, launched after 1991 to stop the spread of weapons-related materials in former Soviet states.
Former US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland admitted during Senate testimony in 2022 that Ukraine had biological research facilities. However, she stressed that the sites were dedicated to public health and threat reduction rather than weapons development.
Biological weapons remain one of the most sensitive subjects. The United States officially ended its offensive biological weapons programme in 1969 under President Richard Nixon and later signed the Biological Weapons Convention in 1972.
That treaty bans the development, production and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons. However, disputes over compliance and transparency have continued for decades between major powers.