Russia Blasted by West at UN for Spreading Bioweapons ‘Nonsense’ over Ukraine

Representative of Russia to the United Nations Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, New York, US, March 18, 2022. (Reuters)
Representative of Russia to the United Nations Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, New York, US, March 18, 2022. (Reuters)
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Russia Blasted by West at UN for Spreading Bioweapons ‘Nonsense’ over Ukraine

Representative of Russia to the United Nations Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, New York, US, March 18, 2022. (Reuters)
Representative of Russia to the United Nations Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, New York, US, March 18, 2022. (Reuters)

The United States and Western allies slammed Russia on Friday for spreading propaganda, disinformation and "nonsense" at the United Nations Security Council by alleging that parts of biological weapons were being made in Ukraine.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia sent a lengthy document, seen by Reuters, to the council and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday on Moscow's accusation that there are "military biological programs" in Ukraine.

"The Ministry of Defense is receiving more and more material and analyzing that. We will continue to keep the international community informed about the unlawful activity carried out by the Pentagon on Ukrainian territory," Nebenzia told the council.

It was the second time in two weeks that the 15-member council met on the topic at Russia's request. Britain's UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward described Russia's move as "disinformation of the desperate."

"We've had a rehash of amateurish disinformation, which we discussed and debunked last Friday. It was nonsense then, and it is nonsense now," she told the council on Friday.

The United Nations has said it was not aware of any biological weapons programs in Ukraine, and UN disarmament affairs chief Izumi Nakamitsu told the council on Friday that the world body does not have "the mandate nor the technical or operational capacity" to investigate Russia's information.

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Friday accused her Russian counterpart of "a tirade of bizarre conspiracy theories" last week.

"This week we're hearing a whole lot more where that came from, things that sound like they were forwarded to him on a chain email from some dark corner of the internet. President Biden has a word for this kind of talk: 'Malarkey,'" she said.

Thomas-Greenfield also said "it is possible that Russia may be planning to use chemical or biological agents against the Ukrainian people," but did not cite any evidence for Washington's concerns.

Russia called the meeting on Friday to replace a planned vote on a Russian-drafted call for aid access and protection of civilians in Ukraine. Diplomats said the measure would have failed, while Nebenzia accused Western countries of a campaign of "unprecedented pressure" against it.



Elevated Road Under Construction in Bangkok Collapses, At Least 5 Dead

Dangerous zone warning signs were posted to block off the area at the scene of an accident at an under-construction expressway, in Bangkok, Thailand, 15 March 2025. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK
Dangerous zone warning signs were posted to block off the area at the scene of an accident at an under-construction expressway, in Bangkok, Thailand, 15 March 2025. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK
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Elevated Road Under Construction in Bangkok Collapses, At Least 5 Dead

Dangerous zone warning signs were posted to block off the area at the scene of an accident at an under-construction expressway, in Bangkok, Thailand, 15 March 2025. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK
Dangerous zone warning signs were posted to block off the area at the scene of an accident at an under-construction expressway, in Bangkok, Thailand, 15 March 2025. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK

An elevated road being built in Thailand’s capital Bangkok collapsed, killing at least five people, officials said.
The collapse, which happened in the early morning in southwestern Bangkok, also injured 24 other people at the construction site, said Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit.
Suriya offered his condolences and said victims would be compensated by contractors and relevant agencies. He said four workers and an engineer were killed, and no road users were affected as traffic lanes near the construction were closed at the time.
Bangkok police commander Siam Boonsom said authorities were still investigating to determine the cause of the collapse and that they would pursue legal actions against those found responsible.
Photos from the site showed that large metal and concrete structures fell on the ground and completely blocked the road, The Associated Press reported.
The construction of the 5-kilometer (3-mile) elevated road started in 2022, according to project information published on the website of the Expressway Authority of Thailand.
Surachet Laophulsuk, governor of the agency, said they were working to clear the debris as quickly as they could, but he said it might take a week. He added that the contractors working on the project were ordered suspended for 14 days pending the investigation.
Road and construction safety is a major problem in Thailand. The site of Saturday’s collapse is a part of a major road connecting Bangkok to Thailand’s south, which has been a subject of controversy over its prolonged construction and frequent fatal accidents.
Suriya said the transportation ministry is in the process of issuing new regulations that would suspend contractors found liable for construction accidents and blacklist them from bidding on future government projects.