The Washington Post (WP), in an article published on October 25, reported that satellite imagery showed signs of a major expansion and renovation at a restricted military installation near Moscow, which once housed Cold War biological weapons.
During the Cold War, Sergiyev Poad-6 was a Soviet research center for biological weapons. The Soviet military used this lab to experiment weaponizing viruses such as those that cause Ebola and smallpox.
The WP reported that satellite imagery showed massive construction and renovations at the Sergiyev Posad-6 Site shortly after Russia launched their full-scale invasion in Ukraine in February 2022. Photos from imaging firms Planet Labs, and Maxar were used. The expansion is over 250,000 square foot and includes 10 new buildings.
According to experts on biodefense, military, and satellite imagery who spoke with the WP, these facilities have some of the distinct features of high-security labs that deal with dangerous pathogens.
These features include extensive rooftop air handling systems, underground infrastructure and increased security. A possible power plant is also included. One expert said that the layout is “consistent” with lab design and suggests “maximum-containment” laboratories.
The upgrades are in line with the facility’s history of developing viral biological weapons, said Andrew Weber. He is a former Pentagon official, and senior fellow at Council on Strategic Risks.
Officials from Russia have stated that the purpose of these labs is to study Ebola virus and other deadly microbes to protect Russia against possible bioterrorism.
The expansion of Sergiyev Posad-6 coincides in the early months before the full-scale invasion with a Russian campaign of disinformation, where the Kremlin falsely claimed that Ukraine was developing biological weapons.
Officials told WP that satellite photos make it impossible to determine whether Russia intends to use the Sergiyev Posad-6 laboratories to research and develop bio-weapons.
International law prohibits biological warfare. Although there is no proof that Russia used such weapons during its war against Ukraine. Kyiv accuses Moscow of launching thousands chemical weapons attacks in its ongoing invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin also has repeatedly used nuclear blackmail to discourage Ukraine’s Western allies to take a more aggressive stance.
During the Cold War, Sergiyev Posad-6 was a center for biological weapons research. The Washington Post reports that a major renovation was started at the site soon after Russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine.
Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, reported that a Russian suicide drone struck a 25-story building in the Solomianskyi District on October 25, killing a girl aged 15 and injuring 5 others.
According to a U.S. government official, the Biden administration believes a contingent of North Korean soldiers is en route to Russia’s Kursk region in order to help Moscow counter a Ukrainian offensive launched in that region in August.
According to Serhii Lisak, the regional governor of Dnipro, a Russian missile attack on several residential buildings as well as a medical facility late on October 25 killed three people and injured at least 14.
The North Korean foreign ministry stated on October 25 that any decision taken to send troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine would be in accordance with international law. However, it did confirm if such a deployment has occurred.
“If Mr. Trump is so confident of his influence over Putin, would he be able to help free Azovstal’s defenders as well as all Ukrainians who are in Russian captivity immediately?” “Time is of the essence,” Ukrainian boxing world champion Oleksandr Uzyk wrote on X.
“Russia’s losses seem to be quite high.” “This month appears to be the most significant in terms of losses for Russia,” Janek Kesselmann said, the deputy commander at the Estonian Military Intelligence Center.
Ukraine’s military intelligence reported that Russia intends to assign an interpreter for every 30 North Korean soldiers to improve interaction on the battlefield. The report was based on an intercepted communication between service members of an Russian brigade located in Kursk Oblast.
Andrzej Dda, the Polish president, said that he had spoken to Kyiv regarding the possible transfer of South Korean arms but that his response was “unambiguous” to the allies.
Can Ukraine lower the age of mobilization? There’s an issue that many people don’t understand.
“Any outcome must be favorable to Russia, I say it directly, without embarrassment. It must be based upon the realities of the battlefield,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Rheinmetall has transferred to Ukraine, directly or indirectly, about 200 combat vehicles. This includes more than 100 Marder 1A3 models.
“After Kazan (Guterres), he wanted to come to Ukraine but the president didn’t confirm his visit.” Guterres will not be here because of the humiliation that sanity, international law, and international law suffered in Kazan, AFP reported citing a high-ranking Ukrainian president source who refused to be named.
In an interview with Russian propagandist Olga Skabeyeva the Russian President Vladimir Putin didn’t confirm the dispatch of North Korean troops, but said that “once a decision is needed, we will make it.”
Since August 8, Commander-in Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has reported that 6,662 Russian soldiers have been killed. 10,446 have been wounded and 711 have been captured.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brkelmans stated on October 25 that Dutch intelligence has confirmed the deployment of at least 1,500 North Korean soldiers to join in the war against Ukraine.
In his statement, Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets didn’t specify whether the lists had been provided to Qatar by Moscow, or the status of those listed as missing soldiers.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Russia, said on October 25 that Russia plans to send its first North Korean soldiers into combat zones between Oct. 27 and 28. He cited intelligence reports.
“The nuclear proliferation is, of course, the biggest risk mankind faces.” Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, said that we should be careful about the goals we set for ourselves in the coming years.
The radar guidance system for a Buk M2 system was reportedly destroyed in the attack by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces.
The incident occurred near Grozny. It is the capital of Russia’s North Caucasus republic with a majority of Muslims, ruled by Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com