UN Security Council members slam Russia over biological warfare claims

United Nations Security Council members on Thursday slammed Russia over its claims that the United States and Ukraine are violating the convention prohibiting the use of biological weapons as a result of activities being carried out at biological laboratories in Ukraine.

Russia is asking the U.N. Security Council to establish a commission to investigate. A draft resolution circulated to council members and obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press states that under Article VI of the convention, Russia has filed an official complaint alleging that banned biological activities are taking place in Ukraine.

On Thursday, Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the High Representative, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs told the council the U.N. was not aware of any such biological weapons programs.

U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield called the claims "pure fabrications," while others, including U.K. ambassador Barbara Woodward said they were a waste of time.

Soon after Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, its U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia claimed that secret American labs in Ukraine were engaged in biological warfare -- a charge denied by the United States and Ukraine.

The draft resolution would authorize the Security Council to set up a commission consisting of its 15 members to investigate the Russian claims and report to the council by Nov. 30 and to parties to the convention at a review conference in Geneva from Nov. 28-Dec. 16.

Nebenzia doubled down on his request Thursday.

"Depending on the results of the consideration of our complaint and of the Security Council draft resolution, Russia will make its decision on how to move forward to ensure national, regional and global biosecurity as well, on how to strengthen the BWC and resolve the situation related to the violations by the U.S. and Ukraine of their obligations under the convention in the context of the operation of bio laboratories on the Ukrainian territory," he said.

Image: AP