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DISINFO: US biolabs are responsible for virus outbreaks in Ukraine since 2008

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

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Biological weapons laboratory Virus / bacteria threat health Conspiracy theory

DISINFO: US biolabs are responsible for virus outbreaks in Ukraine since 2008

SUMMARY

The news about the presence of dozens of biological laboratories on the territory of Ukraine funded by the United States, in which biological weapons have been developed, is shocking. The fact that they specifically tested biological weapons was confirmed by US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, who expressed her concerns about the Russian military's control of biological samples.

Various outbreaks happened, and we only now understand why. Hepatitis Virus in 2008. The outbreak of hemorrhagic pneumonia in 2009, the cholera outbreak in 2011 that recurred in 2014 and 2015, the measles outbreak in 2016, also in 2016 swine flu, and in 2009 it was a “forgotten” strain. Hepatitis A in 2017, measles outbreak 2017-2019. In 2019, diphtheria outbreak. And this is only in Ukraine.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about US bio laboratories which is part of a continuous disinformation campaign led by the Kremlin, now accelerated with the Russian invasion and war in Ukraine.

In reality, the remarks by Victoria Nuland, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, were twisted in this case to provide “confirmation” of the disinformation campaign, while, as a matter of fact, Nuland’s statement about “biological research facilities” did not confirm allegations of bioweapons labs.

Nuland was referring to Ukrainian diagnostic and biodefense laboratories during her testimony, which are different from biological weapons facilities. Rather, these biodefense laboratories counter biological threats throughout the country. This has been clarified repeatedly by independent fact-checkers and experts who have visited the sites in question and found nothing suspicious.

While there is no evidence that these outbreaks are even related to the biolabs, the latter are most actively engaged in fighting dangerous diseases and viruses. Many of the labs are part of the US Department of Defense’s Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP), which has previously been implemented even in Russia.

Read similar cases of disinformation in the database claiming that COVID-19 was released from a US lab; or that NATO’s biological experiments are a danger for Russia; or that US Biolabs has been developing new biological weapons in Ukraine; or that the US tests biological weapons on Ukrainians to further attack Russia; or that US-controlled Biolabs develop biological weapons under the guise of studying dangerous infections.

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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