Inside Russia's secretive lab expansion near Moscow
Russia has been intensively developing the biological weapons laboratory at Sergiev Posad-6 since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine. According to "The Washington Post," ten new buildings have been constructed there, covering a total area of 247,000 square feet.
Journalists analyzed 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. The newspaper reports that images from April and May 2023 reveal the construction of an underground tunnel that connects the laboratories to the power plant, allowing safe movement of vehicles and personnel under controlled conditions.
The Sergiev Posad-6 facility is located not far from Moscow.
The Washington Post reports that some new buildings have features indicating they are intended for work with dangerous pathogens. The conclusions are based on the layout of the buildings, underground infrastructure, heightened security measures, and the presence of a power plant on the site. Four of these buildings are equipped with advanced ventilation systems typical for 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 his 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 defense 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 Defense 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.
