Washington has lodged an official diplomatic representation against Moscow after a lab worker died at a Siberian plague research facility, accusing the Kremlin of withholding critical details about the incident. The move has heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed superpowers and sparked fears of a global outbreak.
Death at Irkutsk research institute
The scientist, named in local reports as Daria Shipilova, died after falling ill at a research institute in Irkutsk, an establishment originally set up under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in 1934. Russian officials insist the woman died of pneumonia from "an unknown cause" and claim extensive tests found no "microorganisms connected to her professional activities."
However, American intelligence and state officials remain unconvinced by Moscow's explanation, fearing a potential plague outbreak could spread beyond Russia's borders.
US calls for transparency
Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that information provided by Moscow was "still quite limited." He said: "We encourage Russia to be transparent and share more information with the world so that all of us could react accordingly and appropriately. Maybe there's nothing there. Maybe it's bigger than we thought. We don't know."
He added: "We're watching it very closely, hour by hour. We have multiple agencies, not just in the US but internationally, that are watching it." The State Department officially requested urgent answers from Russian officials while contacting allies globally.
Nuclear threats compound fears
American authorities have long claimed that Russia still has a secret germ weapons programme dating back to the USSR, noting in a 2025 report that "the Soviet program was absorbed, not dismantled, by the Russian Federation, and that the program has continued and evolved." Fears of a biological catastrophe have been compounded by terrifying nuclear threats issued by Kremlin hardliners.
Putin ally Sergei Karaganov recently warned that Russia could "go nuclear" and wipe out European nations if Western powers continue supporting Ukraine. Speaking to the BBC, Karaganov said: "If they continue this war, a European war with American help, against Russia, on Ukrainian territory, sooner or later we'll feel the need to escalate."
The Russian strategist added: "According to my scenarios, the first series of blows will be conventional. But if Europe does not surrender, unfortunately, we will have to go nuclear. There will be little left of some European countries." When asked about potential retaliation from NATO powers, he said: "No, there will be no response from Europe. What, Britain will attack Russia with nuclear weapons? I hope you're not that crazy. I'm sure the Americans are not that crazy."
UK warns citizens to prepare
With biological threat levels unconfirmed and nuclear rhetoric escalating, UK officials are warning Brits to prepare for the worst. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned that Britain faces a "greater risk of war" than at any point in his lifetime, urging families to adopt a "whole society approach" to panic-proof their homes against impending conflict.
