Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev Photo:VCG

US-funded biological laboratories in Ukraine were engaged in developing components of biological weapons, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday.

"It is impossible not to mention the activities conducted by the United States and its allies near the Russian borders," Medvedev said at a government meeting.

Such activities were not aimed at searching for effective means of protection against dangerous diseases or cooperating with the international community, he stressed.

"Work there was carried out behind closed doors. In fact, components of biological weapons were developed and pathogenic microorganisms were studied that has posed a threat to all mankind," Medvedev said in a statement.

"Therefore, we consider such activities as a whole absolutely unacceptable both in Ukraine and other countries surrounding us," he said.

Moscow has information that an array of biological laboratories have been founded around Russia, which are engaged in developing bio-weapons, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier in April.

"Within the framework of a program funded by the Pentagon, a whole network of biolabs have been created around Russia and Belarus, which not only deal with extremely dangerous pathogens, microbes, viruses, but also work on projects to invent new types of biological weapons," Peskov said in an interview with Belarus-24 TV channel.

"The Americans are now trying to divert attention from the issue of biological laboratories, but facts speak for themselves. The issue concerns Russia and many other countries," he said.

During Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, the dangerous biological activities of the US had been revealed, Irina Yarovaya, deputy chairperson of the State Duma or the lower house of Russia's parliament, said earlier this week.

Russian lawmakers have formed a commission to investigate US-controlled biological laboratories in Ukraine.

Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, in March demanded the US explain its research on biological weapons conducted in its bio-labs in Ukraine.

Xinhua