US Director of National Intelligence publishes slides on US-backed "biolabs" in Ukraine

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, ahead of her upcoming resignation, has "declassified" materials that allegedly indicate long-term US government funding for more than 120 "biolaboratories", including in Ukraine.

Source: a press release by Gabbard, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The press release claims that among such facilities – where research on biological pathogens, including dangerous ones, is conducted – are laboratories in Ukraine, which may be "at risk of compromise due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war".

Gabbard's statement also says that US intelligence had previously warned about the possible storage of hazardous pathogens at one "US-funded biolab in Ukraine".

On the accompanying "map", Gabbard's office incorrectly marked the location of Kyiv or Kyiv Oblast and labelled one of the sites as "Cherniv".

Bellingcat investigative journalist Christo Grozev said that Gabbard had "effectively presented the Kremlin with yet one more information operation".

Meanwhile, Financial Times journalist Christopher Miller suggested that Gabbard has seized the opportunity to "perpetuate one of her and Russia's favourite conspiracy theories".

It is worth noting that at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Gabbard had already claimed the existence of US-funded biological laboratories in Ukraine.

Among the "evidence", she cited a Pentagon document on cooperation with the Ukrainian government in the field of safe detection and diagnosis of biological threats, as well as risk reduction related to pathogens. However, the press release stated that since 2005, the United States has supported Ukrainian laboratories, medical and veterinary institutions, and diagnostic facilities as part of a biosafety programme.

Background: Gabbard has announced that her resignation will take effect on 30 June.

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