Ukraine's intelligence: Russia hides secret biolabs on island for virus testing
Photo: Russia built the biolaboratories on Lisiy Island (Getty Images)
Russia has built a secret military complex of biological laboratories on Lisiy Island in Russia’s Tver region, where it conducts experiments with dangerous viruses in the interests of its armed forces, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR).
What is known about the secret facility
Officially, the facility is called the Center for Experimental Physiology and is subordinate to the Federal Medical-Biological Agency.
Despite this, the complex was established on the direct orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin under the guise of veterinary and physiological research intended to "ensure Russia’s defense capability and security."
The facility is located in the middle of the Vyshny Volochyok Reservoir. Since 2023, the waters around the island have been completely closed to civilians under the guise of a "specially protected area of regional significance."
The restricted complex is under tight security:
- it is protected from the air by crews operating air defense missile systems;
- responsibility for the security regime lies directly with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov;
- military personnel involved in guarding the facility reportedly express fear in private conversations of being infected with unknown pathogens.
Threat of an environmental disaster
The body of water where the laboratories are located supplies fresh water to a number of settlements, including the city of Vyshny Volochyok, and is the source of the Tvertsa River, which flows into the Volga.
In the event of dangerous chemicals or pathogens leaking into the reservoir, the consequences could be catastrophic for large parts of Russia due to the risk of widespread epidemics.
Ukraine’s intelligence agency does not rule out the possibility that the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease among cattle in Russia in spring 2026 was caused by failed experiments with viruses and bacteria at the facility.
Earlier, Ukraine’s intelligence said that Russian forces had created conditions for the spread of anthrax in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Threats from Russia
HUR previously assessed the likelihood of another Russian offensive from the north. The intelligence agency said that such an operation was theoretically possible, but that the enemy currently lacks the necessary forces and has not formed a strike group for an attack in the southern direction or a border breakthrough.
In addition, intelligence officials responded to the question of when Putin could start a war with NATO. Ukraine’s military and political leadership said that a direct confrontation with the Alliance would depend on the pace of Russia’s military recovery and the course of the war in Ukraine.
