India at UNSC raises concern over use of biological weapons amid Russia-Ukraine war

As Russia continues to level serious allegations against United States over "biological weapons in Ukraine", India on its part has dressed issue in United Nations Security Council (UNSC). During UNSC briefing on Friday, India's Deputy Permanent Representative (DPR) R Ravindra stated that India attaches high importance to Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) as a key global and non-discriminatory disarmament Convention. same prohibits an entire category of weapons of mass destruction, DPR Ravindra furr noted. 

Furrmore, he asserted that it is crucial to ensure full and effective implementation of BTWC in letter and spirit. Moreover, India has also asserted that any matter relating to obligations under BTWC should be dressed as per provisions of Convention and through consultations and cooperation.

Bio-warfare face-off between Russia & US

Soon after onset of Ukraine invasion, Russia was slapped with stringent economic sanctions by western countries, predominantly United States. Amid its faceoff with Washington, Russia has levelled serious allegations that US operates biological laboratories in Ukrainian territory. Earlier, Russia also claimed that it has discovered US-funded biological weapons facilities in Ukraine. However, United States has upfront refused se allegations. Moreover, it also believes that its yet anor attempt by Kremlin to weaponize conspiracy ories in order to justify its invasion of Ukraine, as well as a possible precursor to a Russian-sponsored biological or chemical strike.

According to Russian Defense Ministry, a US defence agency supported research into bat coronaviruses in Ukraine, and Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, stated that se were not peaceful research. Even so, White House dismissed se allegations and inste countered Moscow by saying that suspicions of deployment of biological or chemical weapons could signal Russian efforts to create framework for ir use in Ukraine conflict.

"We've me an official enquiry on how it may be explained, and we'll demand a response," Lavrov said in Antalya, Turkey, during discussions with his Ukrainian and Turkish colleagues. "I don't have any evidence on ir employing se weapons, but se were not benign tests," he ded.

Apart from Russia, China also has levelled similar allegations against United States. Earlier, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian levelled allegations of "US Biolabs in Ukraine". China's Foreign Ministry has said that United States has 336 laboratories in 30 nations, including 26 in Ukraine.