Russia expands secretive bio‑labs near Moscow amid Ukraine war
Since the conflict in Ukraine began, Russia has been heavily developing the biological weapons laboratory at Sergiev Posad-6. According to "The Washington Post," ten new buildings have been constructed there, covering a total area of approximately 23,000 square metres.
Journalists analysed satellite images obtained from Google Earth and commercial imaging companies. These images show construction machinery working on both the renovation of the old laboratory and the construction of new buildings. Images from April and May 2023 reveal the construction of an underground tunnel that connects the laboratories to the power plant and facilitates the safe movement of vehicles and personnel under controlled conditions, the newspaper reports.
The Sergiev Posad-6 facility is located near Moscow.
According to "The Washington Post," some of the new buildings have features suggesting they are intended for work with dangerous pathogens. These conclusions are based on the layout of the buildings, underground infrastructure, heightened security measures, and the presence of a power plant on site. Four of these buildings are equipped with advanced ventilation systems typical of high-safety-level laboratories.
Satellite image analysis
The portal notes that, based on satellite images, it cannot be conclusively determined whether Russia is conducting research on biological weapons there. Nonetheless, Andrew Weber, a former Pentagon specialist on Russian biological weapons facilities, expressed concerns about the expansion of this military facility.
In an interview with the newspaper "Krasnaya Zvezda" in April 2024, the military head of the laboratory, Sergey Borisovich, described Sergiev Posad-6 as the "backbone of the country's biological defence system." He stated that the facility aims to develop medical measures that can protect troops and the population against biological weapons used by Russia's enemies, including foreign states and terrorist groups.
"The Washington Post" noted that construction work began several months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and "around the time of a Kremlin-led disinformation campaign that accused the United States of helping Kyiv create a secret bioweapons program." In June 2022, Russia filed a formal complaint with the UN, accusing Ukraine—without evidence—of preparing to use biological weapons.
Kremlin officials officially deny the existence of biological weapons in Russia.
- The Russians have never been transparent about the Ministry of Defence facilities - Mallory Stewart, Deputy Secretary of the Bureau of Arms Control at the U.S. State Department, said to "The Washington Post." - It raises questions about what they’re hiding - she added.
