The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed allegations made by U.S. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard regarding the purported funding of over 120 biolabs by the U.S. government, including in Ukraine.
The ministry emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to fulfilling its international obligations under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). It stated that the country has never engaged in activities related to the development, production, or stockpiling of biological weapons.
“Cooperation between Ukraine and the United States in the field of biological security has focused exclusively on strengthening public health systems, epidemiological surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, biosafety, and biosecurity,”
the ministry noted. It further clarified that these efforts are part of standard civilian operations that align with international health standards and are not associated with any military objectives.
According to the ministry, the laboratories involved in these international technical assistance programs serve as diagnostic, scientific, or reference laboratories within public health, veterinary medicine, or other scientific institutions. The ministry remarked that the narrative of alleged “bioweapons labs” is not new, having been utilized in Russian propaganda for many years. It reiterated that all Russian accusations have been consistently refuted at the international level.
In 2022, an official consultative process was conducted in response to a request from the Russian Federation under Article V of the BTWC. This process involved member states of the convention and provided comprehensive data regarding the cooperation programs, their goals, and implementation mechanisms.
The ministry reaffirmed Ukraine’s dedication to the principles of transparency, international cooperation, and the strengthening of the global biological security framework. It urged reliance on the outcomes of international consultations and verified facts rather than distorted interpretations or Russian propaganda.
Prior to this, Gabbard had released information claiming that the U.S. government has been funding over 120 biolabs, including those in Ukraine, where research on dangerous biological pathogens allegedly takes place. She suggested that these laboratories could be at risk due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Notably, Gabbard’s map, which purportedly marked the locations of these biolabs, inaccurately depicted the position of Kyiv and labeled one city as “Cherniv” instead of potentially referring to Chernivtsi. The map also indicated that Ukraine supposedly has biolabs in Russian-occupied Crimea and in a location identified as “Transcarpathia.” Gabbard previously announced that her resignation would take effect on June 30.
The Ukrainian government has firmly rejected claims of U.S.-funded biolabs within its borders, asserting compliance with international biological weapons conventions. The ministry highlighted the civilian nature of its cooperation with the U.S. in public health and biosafety, while criticizing the use of such allegations in Russian propaganda.