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US, Ukraine claim military-biological research 'peaceful' — Russian defense ministry

According to Igor Kirillov, Russia asked more than 20 questions concerning violations of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention by Kiev and Washington and received no answers

MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. Russia has documented proof that US-backed biological weapons research was conducted in Ukraine, but Washington and Kiev claim this work was carried out "for peaceful purposes," Chief of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov said.

"Russia has presented documented evidence that work with biological weapons components and the study of agents of especially dangerous and economically significant infections were conducted in Ukraine’s territory with the United States’ financial, scientific, technical, and personnel support. <…> Hiding behind Article X of the [Biological and Toxin Weapons] Convention, Washington and Kiev positioned their military-biological research as ‘cooperation for peaceful purposes,’" he told a briefing on the United States’ military-biological activities.

According to Kirillov, Russia asked more than 20 questions concerning violations of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) by Kiev and Washington. "They were about the range and quantity of pathogen microorganisms studied under the risk reduction program, about tests on Ukrainian servicemen and the mentally ill, about Ukraine and the US’ attempts to conceal their cooperation in the military-biological sphere in international reports under the BTWC. <…> We have received no answers to any of these questions. So, we plan to return to the discussion of these matters at the upcoming BTWC review conference," he added.

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