Victoria Nuland Says U.S. Is Protecting “Biological Research Facilities” in Ukraine

The State Department is concerned that Russian forces are trying to gain control of “biological research facilities” within Ukraine.

Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday that the United States is “now quite concerned Russian troops … may be seeking to gain control of [the facilities], 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.”

140,000 UKRAINIANS LIVING OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY RETURN TO FIGHT RUSSIA

Her admission came after Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio asked her if Ukraine has “chemical or biological weapons.” Following her response, the senator claimed there was a Russian plan putting out disinformation that they “uncovered a plot by Ukrainians to release biological weapons in the country and with NATO’s coordination.“

Should such an attack occur in Ukraine, Nuland said there’s “no doubt in my mind” that Russia would be behind it and called the planned move a “classic Russian technique to blame on the other guy what they’re planning to do themselves.”

Neither the State Department nor the Pentagon responded to requests for more information about these facilities.

Already during the fighting, Russian forces converged on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine. A Russian projectile hit the plant, situated in the southeastern part of the country, early Friday morning, igniting a localized fire that resulted in widespread concern of a radiological disaster, though those fears never materialized.

Russian forces control the plant and have also overrun the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

140,000 UKRAINIANS LIVING OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY RETURN TO FIGHT RUSSIA

In a recent update, the International Atomic Energy Agency expressed concern about workers who have been held against their will working for days on end at these facilities.

“I’m deeply concerned about the difficult and stressful situation facing staff at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant and the potential risks this entails for nuclear safety. I call on the forces in effective control of the site to urgently facilitate the safe rotation of personnel there,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.