The United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) met Friday to discuss the Russian government’s claim
that the United States was funding the use of chemical and biological weapons
in Ukraine. At the meeting, the US said Russia was lying and spreading
misinformation as part of a false-flag operation so that Moscow could use
similar weapons in Ukraine.

Kremlin’s
claims

The Kremlin has
repeatedly accused the US of funding chemical weapons use. In December last year,
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had said that 120 US mercenaries in the
Donbas region, the region whose independence claims initiated the current
escalation in the Russia-Ukraine crisis, were given “tanks of chemical weapons
to create provocation,” according to a Sky News report.

Subsequently, on
March 3, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that US intelligence
officials are worried that fighting could lead to chemical and biological
facilities being damaged.

A week later, on
March 9, a Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said it had discovered a
military biological weapons programme inside Ukraine. According to the foreign
ministry’s claim, labs in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa are seeking ways to use
birds and bats to spread anthrax and other deadly pathogens.   

Pentagon’s
denial

The United States,
of course, has vehemently denied any involvement in deployment of chemical or
biological weapons in Ukraine. Instead, the US has consistently called Russia’s
accusations part of Putin’s misinformation manoeuvres in a bid to mobilise a
false-flag operation.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield,
US’ envoy to the United Nations, said Russia’s intent behind making these
claims “seems clear, and is deeply troubling.” “We believe Russia could use
chemical or biological agents for assassinations, as part of a staged or
false-flag incident, or to support tactical military operation.”

Are there
biological weapons in Ukraine?

Ukraine has a
network of biological laboratories dedicated to pathogen research. These labs
receive funding and research support from the US. To Russia’s claims, however,
Ukraine said Moscow’s accusations “may actually point at Russia preparing
another horrific false-flag operation.” Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky
too said the accusation was a bad sign.

The United Nations
maintained that it is not aware of any biological weapons programme.