Information warfare continues to plague the Ukrainian conflict. For several days, Russia has accused Ukraine and the United States of preparing biological weapons in the laboratory. A communication that makes Westerners fear future use by Russian forces. The UN Security Council is due to meet urgently on Friday, March 11, at 5 p.m. (Paris time), at the request of Moscow, about the alleged manufacture of biological weapons in Ukraine.
1What does Russia say?
The accusation has been made several times. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, notably claimed that the United States had funded a biological weapons program in Ukraine. “Documents Show Experiments Were Conducted With Bat Coronavirus Sampleshe assures. The goal of this biological research in Ukraine, along with others funded by the Pentagon, was to create a mechanism for the clandestine dissemination of deadly pathogens.”
Since then, the Russian media under the influence of the Kremlin have taken up these accusations. “In Kharkiv, 20 soldiers died after being exposed to some kind of virus weapon”thus assures the tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda (in Russian). This newspaper evokes about fifteen laboratories across Ukraine which would prepare weapons “for attacks on Russia”.
All of these accusations have been denied by the United States and Ukraine. “The Kremlin intentionally spreads outright lies”reacted the spokesman of the American diplomacy Ned Price in a press release. “I am the president of a decent country, of a decent people. No one is developing any chemical or mass destruction weapons on my territory”said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Now what, you’re going to de-chemize Ukraine?” According to Zelensky, the labs “dating back to the Soviet Union” do research on “ordinary science and not military technology”. “I am the father of two children. No chemical weapons have been developed in my country” pic.twitter.com/biskebarj5
— Philippe Berry (@ptiberry) March 11, 2022
This is not the first time that Moscow has made such accusations. In 2018, Russia had already implicated the United States, suspecting them of secretly carrying out biological experiments in a laboratory in Georgia. This other former Soviet republic, like Ukraine, aims to join NATO and the European Union.
2What do Westerners fear?
For Westerners, Russia’s communication about chemical weapons hides something. “This is not the first time that Russia has made up such false accusations”asserted US Foreign Minister Ned Price. “Now that Russia has issued its false accusations and China seems to be embracing this propaganda, we must monitor any possible use by Russia of chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine”warned Jen Psaki, spokeswoman for the White House, on Twitter.
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. It’s a clear pattern.
—Jen Psaki (@PressSec) March 9, 2022
During a parliamentary hearing, Victoria Nuland, the number three in American diplomacy, estimated that “It’s a classic Russian technique to accuse others of what they plan to do themselves.”
Ukraine has “biological research facilities,” says Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland, when asked by Sen Rubio if Ukraine has biological or chemical weapons, and says she’s worried Russia may get them. But she says she’s 100% sure if there’s a biological attack, it’s Russia. pic.twitter.com/uo3dHDMfAS
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 8, 2022
Boris Johnson also expressed concern on Thursday about the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. “The things you hear about chemical weapons are straight out of their strategy”said the British Prime Minister on Sky News. “They start by saying that there are chemical weapons that have been stockpiled by their opponents or by the Americans. And so when they themselves deploy chemical weapons, as I fear they do, they have some kind of maskirovka [un terme russe qui désigne l’art de tromper l’ennemi]a ready-made fake story.”
3Does Ukraine have chemical weapons?
There are laboratories in Ukraine, but they have no military vocation, according to Westerners. “Ukraine has a biological research facility, and we are indeed now quite worried about the possibility that Russian forces will try to take control of it”said the American diplomat Victoria Nuland, during her hearing. “So we are working with the Ukrainians on ways to prevent these research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces if they were to approach them.”
These laboratories, supported by the World Health Organization, study ways to mitigate the threats of dangerous diseases affecting both animals and humans, but are not intended to create weapons. In a letter consulted by the Reuters agency, the WHO nevertheless advises Ukraine to destroy its high-risk pathogens housed in its laboratories. It’s about avoiding “any potential spill” which would spread diseases among the population in the event of a bombardment.
Regarding the possible use by the Russian army of chemical or biological weapons, the UN remains cautious for the moment. United Nations spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said “not having any information (…) on their future use” in Ukraine. But European chancelleries do not forget that Russia has already been accused of using such weapons. “We saw it in Syria, we saw it… even in the UK”, replied Boris Johnson in reference to poisonings on British soil. And the British Prime Minister added: “It’s a cynical, barbaric government.” Despite Russian denials, the UK holds Moscow responsible for the 2018 poisoning in Salisbury of ex-Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Novichok.