Russian news agency Sputnik News reports Ukraine was home to U.S.-funded “biological research facilities,” didn’t want Russia to control those facilities.
QUICK FACTS:
- According to Sputnik News, the United States funded “biological research facilities” in Ukraine.
- The publication goes on to assert those labs were used to conduct research into bat coronaviruses.
- The “economic war” put into place against Russia by the United States and it’s allies, which took off following their invasion of Ukraine, was partially motivated by the U.S.’s desire to keep those labs out of Russian hands, according to Sputnik.
STATEMENT FROM RUSSIA’S MINISTRY OF DEFENSE ON THE LABS:
- “According to the documents, the American side planned to conduct work on pathogens of birds, bats, and reptiles in Ukraine in 2022, with a further transition to studying the possibility of carrying African swine fever and anthrax”, chief spokesman for the Ministry of Defense Major General Igor Konashenkov said according to the Global Times.
- The facilities were also believed to be studying the potential spread of pathogens through birds migrating between Russia, Ukraine and other nations: “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 added.
BACKGROUND:
- According to the Russian MoD, there were 30 biological compounds in Ukraine that they believe were involved in bio weapons production, according to a source cited by the Global Times.
- Fox News’ Jesse Waters reported on Wednesday that biolabs in Odesa and Kyiv could be “in Putin’s hands in a matter of days.”
