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According to Reuters, the World Health Organization suggested Ukraine to destroy high-threat pathogens housed in the nation’s public health laboratories to avoid “any potential spills” that could spread disease among the population.
According to biosecurity experts, Russia’s movement of troops into Ukraine and bombardment of its cities has increased the risk of disease-causing pathogens escaping if any of those facilities is damaged.
Ukraine, like many other countries, has public health laboratories that are researching ways to reduce the threat of dangerous diseases that affect both animals and humans, most recently COVID-19. Its laboratories have received funding from the United States, the European Union, and the World Health Organization.
In response to Reuters’ questions about its work with Ukraine prior to and during Russia’s invasion, the WHO said in an email that it has been working with Ukrainian public health labs for several years to promote security practices that help prevent “accidental or deliberate release of pathogens.”
“As part of this work, WHO has strongly advised Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and other responsible bodies to destroy high-threat pathogens to avoid any potential spills,” the WHO, a United Nations agency, said.
The WHO would not say when it made the recommendation, nor would it say what pathogens or toxins were housed in Ukraine’s laboratories. In addition, the agency did not respond to questions about whether its suggestions were followed.
Requests for comment from Ukrainian officials in Kyiv and at their embassy in Washington went unanswered.
Since Russia began sending troops into Ukraine two weeks ago, Ukraine’s laboratory capabilities have been at the center of a growing information war.
On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reiterated a long-standing claim that the US maintains a biowarfare lab in Ukraine, an accusation that Washington and Kyiv have repeatedly denied.
According to Zakharova, documents discovered by Russian forces in Ukraine revealed an “emergency attempt to erase evidence of army biological programs” by destroying lab specimens.
Reuters was unable to confirm her claims independently.
“Ukraine strictly denies any such allegation,” a Ukrainian presidential spokesperson responded. US government spokespeople also strongly denied Zakharova’s accusations, claiming that Russia could use them as an excuse to deploy its own chemical or biological weapons.
There was no mention of biowarfare in the WHO statement.
According to the agency, all parties should work together to “safely and securely dispose of any pathogens they come across, and to reach out for technical assistance as needed.” It offered to assist with technical guidance and coordination wherever possible.
According to diplomats, the United Nations Security Council will meet on Friday at Russia’s request to discuss Moscow’s claims of US biological activities in Ukraine, which have been presented without evidence.
