Ukraine's intelligence warns of Russian biological terrorism in Kherson region
Photo: Russian soldier (Getty Images)
In the occupied Kherson region, the Russians are violating the rules for burying livestock infected with anthrax. This poses a threat of spreading the dangerous disease, according to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR).
The Russian troops are transporting the carcasses of infected animals to livestock burial sites, of which there are about fifty in the region. Of these, about ten sites located near Askania-Nova, Skadovsk, and Zaliznyi Port pose the greatest danger.
"The Russians are disposing of infected animals without adhering to any sanitary standards. They do not incinerate the animal carcasses but simply bury them. Many of these sites are in a state of extreme neglect, located near roads and populated areas—some are less than 1 kilometer from residential areas," the statement reads.
Risks to population
The burial sites lack secure fencing or other protective structures. Furthermore, the Russian occupying so-called administration fails to perform the necessary maintenance on these sites to ensure biosafety.
Read also: Crimea supply corridor is falling apart as Ukrainian troops burn Russian military vehicles
The situation is complicated by the fact that some of the burial sites are located in areas with high groundwater levels. This significantly increases the risk of spreading the anthrax pathogen, which can remain viable in the soil for up to 100 years. Such actions pose a direct threat to both the civilian population and the agricultural sector of the Kherson region.
"The deliberate or negligent creation of conditions for an anthrax outbreak is yet another crime committed by Russia, the aggressor state, which can be interpreted as an act of biological terrorism against the civilian population in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," HUR emphasizes.
Intelligence sources do not rule out the possibility that Russian troops may use these animal burial sites to carry out provocations under a false flag.
In particular, Russians may carry out explosions at these sites to accuse Ukraine of allegedly using biological weapons as part of a propaganda campaign.
On the night of June 23, drones carried out a large-scale attack on Crimea. The strikes sparked fires on the peninsula, and traffic across the Kerch Bridge was halted. Among the targets hit were the Kavkaz port and an oil terminal.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) note a significant intensification of Ukrainian strikes on Russian rear facilities. In May and June 2026 alone, the destruction of over 500 Russian trucks and other vehicles was confirmed.
