Russia and China are doubling down on claims that the United States is conducting biological weapons research in “biolabs” across war-torn Ukraine – assertions that leaders in Washington and Kyiv have called absurd, reports FoxNews.
Alleged research labs
Russian diplomat Dmitry Polyanski has requested the United Nations Security Council discuss the alleged research at a meeting Friday, the Kremlin-aligned media outlet RIA Novosti reported earlier.
Bioweapons program
The report also highlighted allegations from Russia’s Defense Ministry that claim the U.S. spent $200 million on Ukrainian labs for a purported “bioweapons program.” Russia claims its troops uncovered evidence during Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which he calls a “special military operation.”
A false flag effort?
“This is exactly the kind of false flag effort we have warned Russia might initiate to justify a biological or chemical weapons attack,” Olivia Dalton, a spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, told Fox News Digital Thursday. “Russia has a well-documented history of using chemical weapons and has long maintained a biological weapons program in violation of international law.”
Russia also has a track record of accusing Western allies of misconduct it’s conducting itself, she said.
Not a venue for disinformation
“We’re not going to let Russia gaslight the world or use the UN Security Council as a venue for promoting their disinformation.,” she added.
Earlier Thursday, when asked what proof China had of the claims during his daily news briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Ljian provided none but demanded the U.S. answer questions about the issue.
Russian Mission asked for a meeting of #SecurityCouncil for 11 March to discuss the military biological activities of the US on the territory of #Ukraine https://t.co/51LOJwi6zy
— Dmitry Polyanskiy (@Dpol_un) March 10, 2022
“What has the U.S. been doing at Fort Detrick and its 336 biological laboratories abroad?” he asked. “Do the activities conform to the stipulations of the [Biological and Toxin Weapons Conventions]?”
Fort Detrick is the home of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command in Maryland.
Biological research laboratories in Kyiv
Earlier Thursday, U.S. Defense Department officials said that there were five biological research laboratories in Kyiv – focused on “diagnostics, therapeutics, treatments, prevention and vaccines” – and not on military or biological weapons research.
“There are no DOD bioweapon labs in Ukraine or anywhere else in the world,” the officials said.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called the claims of a global network of U.S.-run biological weapons labs “preposterous” Wednesday. She also warned the claims could be an attempt to create cover for a Russian chemical or biological attack on Ukraine, noting that disinformation is part of the Kremlin’s weapons kit.
China endorsing Russia’s propaganda
“Now that Russia has made these false claims, and China has seemingly endorsed this propaganda, we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them,” she said. “It’s a clear pattern, and no one should fall for it.”
International calls against Russia
Russia’s UN request follows international calls for the country to have its permanent seat on the Security Council removed.
“Moscow is driving decisions in the United Nations through its role as a Permanent Member of the Security Council,” U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, said days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia must be exiled from the international community.”
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: FoxNews
