LONDON, March 9 – On Wednesday, Russia demanded that the United States explain to the world why it supported what Moscow called a biological war program in Ukraine linked to deadly pathogens, including plague and anthrax.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has demanded transparency from Washington on the accusation, which Kyiv denies and which a Pentagon spokesman called absurd.
She said evidence of the alleged program was discovered by Russia during a so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine, where its troops invaded on February 24.
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“We can already conclude that the development of biological weapons components was carried out in Ukrainian biological laboratories in the immediate vicinity of the territory of our country,” she said.
Zakharova said Russia had documents showing that after February 24, Ukraine’s health ministry ordered the destruction of samples of plague, cholera, anthrax and other pathogens.
It was not possible to independently verify the authenticity of any such documents.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova at the annual press conference of Acting Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (not pictured) in Moscow, Russia, January 17, 2020. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
In response to earlier Russian claims about a suspected biological warfare program in Ukraine, a Pentagon spokesman said on Tuesday: “This absurd Russian disinformation is patently false.”
A spokesman for the Ukrainian president said: “Ukraine categorically denies any such allegations.”
Zakharova said the proposed program was funded by the Pentagon. “We are not talking here about peaceful purposes or scientific purposes… What are you thinking there?” she said.
“The US Department of Defense and the US Presidential Administration are obliged to officially explain to the world community, officially, and not through talking heads, about programs in Ukraine.
“We demand details,” she said. “We demand and the world waits.”
Zakharova said it was unclear whether the alleged materials were actually destroyed, adding: “Whether they fell into the hands of extremists or nationalists – who will give a guarantee?”
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Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Mark Trevelyan. Editing by Gareth Jones.
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