Putin could unleash deadly virus from seized Ukraine lab – and then blame the US, warns ex-Brit chemical weapons colonel
RUSSIA could unleash a bioweapon on Ukraine more lethal than Covid from a Ukrainian lab, the former head of the British Army's chemical weapons unit has warned.
Fears are growing Vladimir Putin could unleash a deadly plague as scientists in Ukraine have been told to destroy all ";high-threat" lab diseases.
Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former chief of the British Army's chemical weapons unit, told The Sun Online there is a possibility Russian troops could storm a lab and use it as a base to unleash a bioweapon.
And he also warned that the "indiscriminate" bombing by Putin's troops could spark chaos at one of the labs.
It came as the World Health Organisation said the most deadly pathogens in Ukraine's labs should be wiped out as Russia's relentless bombing has raised the risk of "potential spills".
The invading Russian forces have already proved to be reckless enough to fire shells at Chernobyl, Europe’s largest nuclear-power plant, and fire missiles at a radioactive-waste facility near Kyiv.
And biowarfare experts have become increasingly concerned about the security of Ukraine's labs as the Russian troops advance.
Fears are also growing as Kyiv claimed Russian soldiers have been issued with gas masks - suggesting an imminent chemical or biological attack.
There are said to be more than 4,000 labs in Ukraine - and hundreds of these facilities work with "moderate-risk agents".
Although Ukraine doesn't have a level-four lab - which handle the world's most dangerous pathogens - two have clearance to work with high level pathogens.
These level-three labs typically work with coronaviruses, tuberculosis, yellow fever, SARS, West Nile, and some strains of influenza.
The main lab in Ukraine is understood to be the Ukrainian I. I. Mechnikov Anti-Plague Research Institute in Odessa which works with "especially dangerous" pathogens.
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Another level-three lab belongs to the Central Sanitary Epidemiological Station of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in Kyiv.
The US government is said to be "concerned about preventing any of those research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces".
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Even if Ukraine has no biological weapons, it doesn't mean the contents of the country’s various labs wouldn't be dangerous in the wrong hands.
Colonel de Bretton-Gordon told The Sun Online: "We all need to be aware of the biosecurity threat from Russia.
It comes as:
- Russian forces are massing near Kyiv as Ukraine is fortifying the capital for a long bloody siege
- Kremlin diplomats accused a pregnant woman of FAKING her injuries after Putin's forces bombed a hospital
- Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned - and its feared Chelsea could fold if he doesn't sell the club in 81 DAYS
- Russia has been accused of nuclear terrorism after bombing a reactor in Kharkiv
- Britain has warned that Russia could use chemical weapons as the invasion continues
- Incredible video shows a Russian armoured column being blitzed as it advances towards Kyiv
- Sanctions continue to bite - and one Russian was seen stocking up with dozens of McDonald's burgers as the company withdrew
"I think people are very concerned because they realise a virus can bring the world to its knees."
Mr Bretton-Gordon said Putin could unleash a bioweapon "more lethal than Covid".
He warned: "If you splice Covid with something like Ebola, then you have a massive problem.
"The Russians could use a Ukrainian lab to release a bioweapon.
"It would be ideal - they could blame the US and Ukraine for the release of the pathogen.
"The chance to go into a lab would be gold dust for the Russians.
"They could use it in their own disinformation campaign - they would use it for propaganda."
Even without the use of a bioweapon, Mr Bretton-Gordon said the "reckless" bombing by the Russians could spark a lab accident.
He said: "The recklessness and indiscriminate targeting from the Russians could cause an accident.
"If a massive bomb hit the lab, the pathogens could be released - but it's more likely they would be destroyed."
During a Senate hearing on Monday, Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, said the US government was concerned the Russians might try to take control of Ukraine's labs.
She said: "Ukraine has biological-research facilities, which, in fact, we are now quite concerned Russian forces may be seeking to gain control of.
"So we are working with the Ukrainians on how they can prevent any of those research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces, should they approach."
She also warned: "It is classic Russian technique to blame on the other guy what they’re planning to do themselves."
Ukraine's labs have been at the centre of a raging information war since Russia stormed Ukraine two weeks ago.
The Kremlin is pumping out torrents of misinformation in a bid to defend its invasion and the bombing of civilians.
Earlier this week, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova repeated a longstanding claim that the US runs a biowarfare lab in Ukraine - an accusation denied by Washington and Kyiv.
Zakharova claimed documents unearthed by Russian forces in Ukraine showed "an emergency attempt to erase evidence of military biological programmes" by destroying lab samples.
A Ukrainian presidential spokesperson said: "Ukraine strictly denies any such allegation."
And the US government also strongly denied Zakharova's accusations - and warned Russia might use its claims as a pretext to deploy its own chemical or biological weapons.
The WHO said it encourages all parties to cooperate in "the safe and secure disposal of any pathogens they come across, and to reach out for technical assistance as needed".
The White House has already warned desperate Vladimir Putin could unleash biological and chemical weapons on Ukraine.
US intelligence chiefs fear Putin may attempt to "create a false flag operation" with its devastating weapons so he can blame Kyiv.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said: "We should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them.
"It’s a clear pattern."
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She added: "Russia has long maintained a biological weapons program in violation of international law.
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"This is all an obvious ploy by Russia to try to justify its further premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine.
"Also, Russia has a track record of accusing the West of the very violations that Russia itself is perpetrating."