US working on 'universal' genetically engineered bioweapon: Russia’s Duma

The United States is allegedly developing a 'universal' genetically-engineered bioweapon in Ukraine aimed at severely causing harm to enemies.

 A Russian parliamentary commission investigating Washington's military-related biological activities at laboratories across Ukraine concluded on Wednesday that Washington is developing a "universal" genetically-altered bioweapon comparable to that of a "nuclear winter."

The commission added in its 207-page report that the probe into the manufacturing of the highly-damaging bioweapon was based on findings made public by Russia's Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops over the past year.

"The United States aims to develop a universal genetically engineered biological weapon capable of infecting not only people but animals as well as agricultural crops. Its use involves, among other things, the goal of inflicting large-scale and irreparable economic damage on the enemy," the commission said.

"The covert and targeted use of such a weapon in anticipation of a positive inevitable direct military confrontation could create a significant advantage for US forces over the adversary, even against those who possess other types of weapons of mass destruction," it said. 

"The possession of such highly effective biological weapons creates, in the view of the US military, the real prerequisites to change the nature of contemporary armed conflicts."

Soon after Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia claimed that secret American labs in Ukraine had been engaged in biological warfare. The US and Ukraine, however, denied the charges.

In October last year, Russia asked the UN Security Council to establish a commission to investigate its claims that Washington and Kiev were violating the convention prohibiting the use of biological weapons as a result of alleged activities being carried out at biological laboratories in Ukraine.

The Council rejected Moscow's proposal after the US, the UK, and France voted against it. Back in January, Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov said the US opposition at the time "confirms that Washington has something to hide, and that ensuring the transparency of biological research is contrary to US interests."

Pentagon to move bio-weapons programs from Ukraine: Russia

Russia says it has discovered signs of several bio laboratories in Ukraine.

The creation of new, ever more advanced biological agents does not eliminate the dangers posed by traditional bioweapons, the report said on Wednesday.

"The US military biological program has not only not been curtailed, but has acquired a large-scale character in recent years with a focus on offensive actions, carried out under the guise of activities which are permitted under the Biological Weapons Convention, as well as anti-terrorism projects," the commissions said.

The United States is supporting and developing the ability to produce biological weapons and, if necessary, to use them. However, there have been changes in Washington's strategic view with regard to the role of bioweapons in geopolitical competition, and the means of its possible use."

The investigation alleged that a key difference between traditional bioweapons programs and contemporary ones being pursued by the Pentagon is the propensity for the use of pathogens of little-studied natural infections with a high mortality rate, a long incubation period and symptoms typical of common diseases. 

Both Ukraine and Russia have signed a treaty outlawing biological weapons. But Russia has for years said former Soviet countries were manufacturing biological weapons at laboratories funded by the United States.

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