Tulsi Gabbard Declassifies Documents Detailing US-Supported Biological Labs in Over 30 Countries, Including Ukraine

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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released declassified documents Friday that she said provide new details about U.S.-supported biological laboratories in more than 30 countries, including facilities in Ukraine that handle dangerous pathogens.

The partially redacted records, released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, include maps identifying laboratory locations and summaries of research conducted at several facilities.

According to the ODNI, some of the laboratories became vulnerable during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine because they housed potentially hazardous biological materials and were located in active conflict zones.

Gabbard accused previous administrations of concealing the extent of U.S. involvement in the biological research programs.

“Despite the obvious potential for catastrophic global impact research on dangerous pathogens in biolabs can have, politicians, so-called health professionals like Dr. Fauci, and entities within the Biden administration’s national security team lied to the American people about the existence of U.S.-funded and supported biolabs,” Gabbard said in a statement announcing the release.

Among the facilities highlighted is the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine in Kharkiv.

According to the declassified materials, the institute likely housed dangerous pathogens, maintained historical ties to Soviet-era biological research, and conducted work involving veterinary medicine, virology and toxicology.

The documents also state the facility faced biosafety deficiencies in some laboratory areas and was vulnerable to physical damage, seizure or foreign information operations because of the ongoing war.

The released records identify pathogens handled or studied at various laboratories, including anthrax, Ebola virus, swine fever and highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The intelligence assessment further states that U.S. support extended beyond construction and infrastructure to include funding scientific research, providing laboratory equipment and training Ukrainian researchers in biosafety and biocontainment practices.

According to the documents, intelligence officials expressed concern that laboratories operating during wartime could become targets for military action or disinformation campaigns.

The records note that Russia has repeatedly accused the U.S. of conducting biological weapons activities in Ukraine, allegations that have been widely disputed by U.S. officials and international organizations.

The declassified assessment acknowledges those accusations but does not present evidence that the laboratories were engaged in offensive biological weapons development.

Instead, the documents describe the facilities as part of a broader international public health and biodefense research network focused on disease surveillance, diagnostics and infectious disease research, per the Conservative Brief.

The ODNI also acknowledged that portions of the records remain redacted and do not fully describe oversight mechanisms, specific research activities at every facility or the extent of identified biosafety concerns.

Gabbard said the release was intended to increase transparency regarding U.S.-supported biological research programs and pledged additional reviews.

“ODNI will continue to work closely with partners across the government to identify where these labs are, what pathogens they contain to end dangerous Gain-of-Function research that threatens the health and wellbeing of the American people and people around the world,” she said.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence also alleged that information regarding the existence and funding of the laboratories had previously been withheld from the public.

The documents stop short of concluding that the Ukrainian facilities participated in offensive biological weapons programs, instead confirming U.S. funding and collaboration involving laboratories that researched dangerous pathogens while highlighting security risks posed by the ongoing conflict.