The outgoing Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has released information alleging that the U.S. government has financed over 120 biological laboratories in 30 countries, including Ukraine. Her statement, posted on the agency’s website, raises concerns about the safety of these facilities amidst the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Gabbard warned that the laboratories in Ukraine could be at risk due to the prolonged war, suggesting they may contain dangerous pathogens and are vulnerable to potential attacks or seizure by Russian forces. She criticized the Biden administration for allegedly concealing evidence of the existence and funding of these laboratories from the American public, claiming influential figures have falsely asserted that they do not exist.
In her announcement, Gabbard shared a map indicating the locations of these laboratories in Ukraine, although the map contained inaccuracies, such as misplacing Kyiv and labeling a city as “Cherniv” instead of the likely intended Chernivtsi. The map also suggested the presence of labs in Russian-occupied Crimea and a region referred to as “Transcarpathia.”
Christopher Miller, a journalist with the Financial Times, pointed out that Gabbard’s claims reflect a long-standing conspiracy theory, accusing her of distorting facts and inadvertently aiding the Kremlin. He noted the map’s errors, questioning the validity of her assertions based on such inaccuracies.
Christo Grozev, a Bulgarian investigative journalist and expert on Russian intelligence operations, criticized Gabbard’s actions as providing the Kremlin with another opportunity for information warfare. He described her release of what appears to be a legitimate American program as a significant misstep, warning that it could be exploited by Russian propaganda.
Grozev characterized Gabbard’s behavior as an abuse of power, stating, “There is a red line of manipulation and abuse of power, beyond which a useful idiot inevitably turns into a traitor.”
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, echoed Gabbard’s claims, asserting that the Kremlin has repeatedly highlighted unregulated military-biological activities by the U.S.
Questions remain about Gabbard’s timing in releasing this information just days before her departure from her intelligence role, as well as whether the data contains anything new or revealing. Reports indicate that the U.S. government has long funded initiatives under the Cooperative Threat Reduction program, aimed at securing and managing research programs from the Cold War era, particularly those related to former Soviet biological and chemical weapons.
During the final months of Donald Trump’s presidency, an analysis of documents regarding U.S.-funded laboratories was conducted following a decision to restrict federal funding for research involving organism modification in certain countries, including China, over concerns about inadequate oversight.
U.S. government entities, including the Department of Defense, have historically supported foreign laboratories conducting disease research. Gabbard had previously claimed the existence of U.S.-funded biological labs in Ukraine at the onset of the Russian invasion, citing a Pentagon document on collaboration with the Ukrainian government for the safe detection and diagnosis of biological threats.
In April 2022, the Center for Countering Disinformation reported that Gabbard had been working for foreign audiences funded by Russia for several years. Since the onset of the full-scale war, she has suggested that the U.S. is culpable for provoking Russia’s military aggression and that Washington’s elite aims to use Ukrainians to inflict harm on Russians.
Tulsi Gabbard's recent claims about U.S.-funded biological laboratories in Ukraine have sparked controversy, with critics labeling her assertions as conspiracy theories. The inaccuracies in her map and the timing of her statements raise questions about the motivations behind her remarks as she departs her role as Director of National Intelligence.