Ministry of Health reveals the truth about American biolabs and pathogen samples
Kyiv • UNN
The Ministry of Health denied the development of biological weapons, describing the work of the laboratories as purely civilian. Inspections by the UN and member states of the BWC found no violations.
Ukraine consistently fulfills its international obligations under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and has never engaged in activities related to the development, production, or stockpiling of biological weapons. This is stated in a declaration by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (MOH), reports UNN.
Details
It is noted that cooperation between Ukraine and the United States in the field of biological security has for many years been aimed exclusively at strengthening the capacities of the public health system, epidemiological surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, biosafety, and biosecurity. This refers to activities that comply with international health standards and practices and are of an exclusively civilian nature.
The laboratory facilities that participated in the relevant international technical assistance programs are diagnostic, scientific, or reference laboratories of the public health system, veterinary medicine, or other scientific institutions. They are fundamentally not designed for, and could not be used for, any development of biological weapons or conducting research aimed at creating pathogens with enhanced dangerous properties
They emphasize that the issue regarding the nature of Ukrainian-American cooperation in the biological sphere was already the subject of international review in 2022. At the request of the Russian Federation, in accordance with Article V of the BTWC, a formal consultative process was held with the participation of the States Parties to the Convention. During the consultations, Ukraine and the USA provided detailed data regarding the relevant cooperation programs, their goals, and implementation mechanisms.
As a result of these consultations, allegations regarding the alleged development of biological weapons or the operation of military biological programs in Ukraine were not confirmed. Relevant issues were also considered within the framework of the UN Security Council, where no evidence was presented to support the claims put forward by the Russian Federation
They recalled that in December 2023, Ukraine officially confirmed its position at a meeting of the States Parties to the BTWC, emphasizing that the 2022 consultative process exhaustively addressed these allegations, and that Ukraine's cooperation with international partners in the field of public health fully complies with the provisions of the Convention.
The presence of pathogen samples in laboratories is not an exceptional or unusual phenomenon. Such samples are used worldwide for diagnostics, epidemiological surveillance, scientific research, and responding to outbreaks of infectious diseases. This is precisely why one of the areas of international cooperation was increasing the level of biosafety and physical protection of laboratories
The MOH assured that Ukraine remains committed to the principles of transparency, international cooperation, and strengthening the global biological security system.
"We consider it important to rely on the results of international consultations already conducted and verified facts, rather than on assumptions or interpretations of individual aspects of international technical assistance programs," the MOH urged.
Context
The day before, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released evidence indicating "long-term" U.S. government funding of over 120 biological laboratories in more than 30 countries. These laboratories allegedly conduct research on biological pathogens, some of which are dangerous.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine refuted allegations regarding the supposed existence of biological weapons development programs and emphasized full compliance with international obligations in the field of biological security.