Monday, 20 February 2023

Russia’s top investigator eyes 10 US citizens for creating bioweapons in Ukraine

Russia’s top investigator eyes 10 US citizens for creating bioweapons in Ukraine

Russia’s top investigator eyes 10 US citizens for creating bioweapons in Ukraine




©AP Photo/Libkos






The Russian Investigative Committee is looking into ten US citizens and some officials of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry in connection with their involvement in the creation of biological weapons on Ukrainian territory, Chief of Russia's Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin told TASS in an interview.







According to him, the ministry continues to gather and document evidence of Ukraine's violation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction.


"At present, more than 10 US citizens, as well as a number of Ukrainian Defense Ministry officials, are being checked for involvement in double-purpose biological programs," Bastrykin said.


He explained that the main source of evidence to this day remains data from the Russian Defense Ministry obtained during the special military operation, as well as the results of operational and investigative activities.


Last July, Igor Kirillov, the chief of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces of the Russian Armed Forces, presented a report, according to which a network of more than 30 biolaboratories, both research and sanitary and epidemiological ones, had been created on the Ukrainian territory. According to the report, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) ordered the execution of this work.


Per the Defense Ministry, the activity was carried out in three main directions: monitoring of the biological situation, selection and transfer of strains and biomaterials, including those obtained from servicemen, as well as research of potential bioweapons agents specific to the region. The authors of the Russian Defense Ministry report said that under the pretext of testing treatment and prevention of coronavirus infection, several thousand serum samples from patients, "primarily of Slavic ethnic origin," were taken from Ukraine to the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in the US.








Seizure of Artyomovsk in Donbass is matter of time, says DPR



The seizure of Artyomovsk (called Bakhmut by Ukraine) is a matter of time but Russian troops should not hurry to capture the town, Yan Gagin, military-political expert and adviser to the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), told TASS on Monday.


"As for the prospects of liberating Artyomovsk, I believe that we should not hurry. When I am asked about why it takes so long, I simply invite such people to the frontline: come and see what it looks like to be here to understand why we are moving forward so slowly. We are now trying to spare personnel and strike the enemy manpower as accurately as possible. By and large, the seizure of Artyomovsk is a matter of time but I would not hurry and would keep grinding down the enemy. This is practicable and this has already been tested," he said.


Contrary to the Kiev’s regime’s hype about Artyomovsk as "a fortress city and a place where they will be able to show the courage and steadfastness of their soldiers," it has become "a point of disposing of Ukrainian servicemen," Gagin stressed.


"They have lost thousands and thousands of fighters there. On some days, they lose a hundred of personnel a day, which is a heavy toll on this section of the frontline. The bodies [of those killed] are not collected and they just lie on the battlefield," he added.


Artyomovsk is located on the Kiev-controlled territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic and is a major supply hub for the Ukrainian military in Donbass. Russian troops have already seized some communities in Artyomovsk suburbs, including Kleshcheyevka, Podgorodnoye and Paraskoviyevka.



Russian forces gradually tightening grip on Artyomovsk in Donbass, says DPR



Russian forces are gradually encircling Artyomovsk (called Bakhmut by Ukraine) and are preparing to deliver strikes on the town’s western portion, Yan Gagin, military-political expert and adviser to the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), told TASS on Monday.








"Urban battles are already raging in Artyomovsk. If we look at the map of the ongoing battles, Artyomovsk is being closed in on and is half-encircled," he said.


Russian troops are currently preparing for artillery bombardments of the town’s western portion but its observation is impeded so far, he said.


"In practical terms, when we see a target or an object, we can take aim at it and so on. That is, we have made preparations for our artillery to reach that part of the town. For the time being, we cannot yet reach it because we need to observe targets to take aim at," he said.


Artyomovsk is located on the Kiev-controlled part of the Donetsk People’s Republic and is a major supply hub for the Ukrainian military in Donbass. Russian troops have already seized some communities in Artyomovsk suburbs, including Kleshcheyevka, Podgorodnoye and Paraskoviyevka.


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