The Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, declassified information on a series of biological laboratories in Ukraine last Friday. This comes four years after she faced criticism from lawmakers and biodefense experts for initially voicing concerns about them.
A newly released document highlights 24 biology laboratories in Ukraine, including one in Odessa—a sizable city with over a million residents—where biological weapons from an outdated Soviet program are reportedly stored. The viruses found there include anthrax, tularemia, tuberculosis, swine fever, Newcastle disease, MERS, SARS, Marburg, Ebola, Lassa, plague, and rickettsia.
Gabbard stated, “Despite the evident risks of research involving dangerous pathogens in these biolabs, various politicians and even supposed medical experts like Dr. Fauci misled the public about the existence of U.S.-funded biolabs and attempted to silence those who aimed to reveal the truth.” She further added that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) will work closely with government partners to locate these labs and assess the pathogens they house, aiming to halt hazardous gain-of-function research that could threaten global health.
The laboratory in Odessa, along with four others in Ukraine, is classified as biosafety level 3 (BSL-3), indicating they contain virulent pathogens and operate under stringent containment measures.
In another city, Kharkiv, which is close to the Russian border, a lab reported biosafety issues in 2019. Intelligence documents allude to the presence of Brucella bacteria there as well. One document claimed that the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine in Kharkiv likely stores some dangerous pathogens and is at risk from Russian intelligence activities.
As part of the Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP), the Pentagon aims to secure former Soviet biological weapons and repurpose laboratory facilities for civilian infectious disease research. As of the 2010s, around 40 labs in Ukraine had received funding under this program.
The U.S. has also established a new research facility in Ukraine, as indicated by the documents. Yet, more recent findings suggest that some labs engage in gain-of-function research—work that increases pathogen virulence or transmissibility. Most biodefense experts consider this type of research to be high-risk. Certain labs possess permits for studies involving “particularly dangerous pathogens,” such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has a mortality rate of around 50%.
In a press release, Gabbard’s team shared fresh insights obtained from U.S. intelligence agencies, characterizing some research as part of a “purported public health effort.” She has directed the intelligence community to amplify its efforts in monitoring foreign laboratories and facilities.
Collaborators with the BTRP in Ukraine include the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, which was a pivotal part of the U.S. biological weapons agenda until the Biological Weapons Convention was signed in 1972. Additionally, Metabiota, a contractor for USAID, is involved, although its record has been criticized for lapses in biosafety during previous health crises.
Back in March 2022, shortly after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Gabbard expressed worry over the security of Ukrainian biolabs and called for a ceasefire. Recently, State Department official Victoria Nuland confirmed the existence of biological research facilities in Ukraine, citing concerns over Russian control of these sites. Nuland stated, “We are currently worried that the Russian military is trying to gain access to these facilities and are coordinating with Ukraine to ensure that vital research materials do not fall into their hands.”
However, Gabbard’s remarks drew criticism, with detractors, including Senator Mitt Romney, labeling her comments as “treasonous.” The ODNI subsequently claimed that information about the funding and location of U.S.-backed biolabs had been deliberately concealed, and accusations of treachery were levied against anyone who questioned their existence.
While some experts in biodefense opposed Gabbard’s role as DNI due to these remarks, recently declassified documents show that intelligence agencies recognized the potential risks to U.S. credibility from collaborations in Ukraine concerning infectious diseases.
Amid accusations of producing bioweapons, intelligence officials have acknowledged that the laboratory in Kharkiv indeed features a basement, adding to the intrigue surrounding these facilities.
