Russia has accused Ukraine and the United States of plotting to use migratory birds and bats to spread pathogens, raising alarm at the UN Security Council that Moscow may be laying the groundwork for its own biological attack. Russian UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya claimed the alleged scheme would involve insects and animals crossing Ukraine's western border, potentially endangering all of Europe.
“We call upon you to think about a very real biological danger to the people in European countries, which can result from an uncontrolled spread of bio agents from Ukraine,” Nebenzya said. He alleged that radical nationalist groups in Ukraine were working with the US defence ministry on dangerous pathogens.
The UN disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu stated the UN was “not aware of any biological weapons programmes” in Ukraine, noting that official channels exist for raising concerns about the Biological Weapons Convention. Several Security Council members warned the accusations could be a disinformation campaign ahead of a Russian attack.
US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: “The intent behind these lies seems clear and it is deeply troubling. We believe Russia could use chemical or biological agents for assassinations as part of a false flag incident or to support tactical military operations.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy echoed these concerns, saying: “If you want to know Russia’s plans, look at what Russia accuses others of.”
Meanwhile, Russian forces continued their advance into Ukraine, bombing western cities including Lviv, Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk. Satellite images showed the massive convoy outside Kyiv had largely dispersed, with armoured units fanning out into towns and forests. In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin announced 16,000 foreign “volunteers” from the Middle East were ready to fight alongside Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities reported heavy shelling across the east, with a psychiatric hospital near Izyum hit, trapping 330 people. In Mariupol, conditions remain dire as more than 400,000 people are trapped without heat, electricity or food. Ukraine's deputy prime minister said over 1,300 people had died in the 10-day siege, calling it a war crime.
