Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Friday, June 14, 2026, released a cache of declassified documents that she stated provide new details regarding U.S.-supported biological laboratories in more than 30 countries worldwide. The extensive release by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) includes information on facilities in Ukraine, which have been a point of international contention amidst the ongoing conflict in the region.
"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." — Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence
The partially redacted records, made public by the ODNI, contain maps identifying the locations of these laboratories and summaries of the research activities conducted at several of these facilities. The documents highlight that some of the laboratories in Ukraine became particularly vulnerable following Russia's invasion, largely due to their housing of potentially hazardous biological materials within active conflict zones.
In a statement accompanying the release, Director Gabbard sharply criticized previous administrations, accusing them of deliberately concealing the true extent of U.S. involvement in these 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 asserted. Her remarks underscore a broader call for greater transparency and accountability in government-supported scientific endeavors.
According to the intelligence documents, the United States played a significant role in establishing or supporting more than 40 biological laboratories across Ukraine. These efforts were undertaken as part of broader public health and biodefense cooperation programs, aimed at enhancing global health security and preparedness against biological threats. One facility specifically highlighted in the declassified materials is the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The documents indicate that this institute likely housed dangerous pathogens and maintained historical ties to Soviet-era biological research. Its work encompassed various fields, including veterinary medicine, virology, and toxicology.
The declassified assessment also raised concerns about biosafety deficiencies identified in certain laboratory areas within the Kharkiv institute. Furthermore, it noted the facility's vulnerability to physical damage, potential seizure by hostile forces, or foreign information operations, particularly given its location in an active war zone. The released records identify a range of pathogens handled or studied at various laboratories, including highly dangerous agents such as anthrax, Ebola virus, swine fever, and highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The scope of U.S. support, as detailed in the intelligence assessment, extended beyond mere construction and infrastructure development. It included substantial funding for scientific research, the provision of advanced laboratory equipment, and comprehensive training for Ukrainian researchers in critical biosafety and biocontainment practices. Intelligence officials, according to the documents, expressed considerable concern that laboratories operating under wartime conditions could become prime targets for military action or be exploited in disinformation campaigns.
The records acknowledge that Russia has repeatedly accused the United States of conducting biological weapons activities in Ukraine. These allegations have been consistently and widely disputed by U.S. officials and numerous international organizations. While the declassified assessment acknowledges these accusations, it does not present any evidence to support claims that the laboratories were engaged in offensive biological weapons development. Instead, the documents consistently describe these facilities as integral components of a broader international public health and biodefense research network, primarily focused on disease surveillance, diagnostics, and infectious disease research.
The ODNI also noted that certain portions of the records remain redacted, meaning they do not fully describe all oversight mechanisms, specific research activities at every facility, or the full extent of identified biosafety concerns. Director Gabbard stated that the primary objective of this release was to enhance transparency regarding U.S.-supported biological research programs. She also pledged additional reviews, emphasizing a commitment to identifying all such labs, understanding their pathogen inventories, and working towards the cessation of "dangerous Gain-of-Function research that threatens the health and wellbeing of the American people and people around the world."
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence further alleged that information concerning the existence and funding of these laboratories had previously been withheld from public knowledge. The declassified documents, while confirming significant U.S. funding and collaboration with laboratories engaged in dangerous pathogen research, stop short of concluding any involvement in offensive biological weapons programs. Instead, they underscore the inherent security risks posed by the ongoing conflict in regions where these facilities operate.
