Russia is burying the carcasses of livestock infected with anthrax within occupied Ukraine in an apparent attempt, according to Kyiv, to spread the disease to nearby residential areas.
Ukraine intelligence officials reported this week that the Russians have created more than 50 infected cattle burial sites in the occupied parts of Ukraine’s Kherson region. At least 10 of the sites are considered particularly dangerous.
“The Russians are disposing of infected animals without complying with any sanitary standards. Instead of being properly incinerated, infected livestock carcasses are simply buried,” DIU officials said in a statement. “Many of these sites are in extremely neglected condition and are located near roads and settlements — in some cases, less than one kilometer from residential areas.”
The burial grounds lack secure fencing and other protective structures. The soil covering the graves eventually subsides. However, Russian authorities have failed to carry out the maintenance required to ensure biological safety, DIU officials said.
Anthrax is a serious, often fatal infectious disease that typically affects grazing animals like cattle and sheep. But humans can contract it through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products, or by inhaling its highly resilient spores, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kyiv officials said burying cattle infected with anthrax near population centers is an act of biological terrorism on the part of Russia.
Ukraine said Russia may use the burial sites to stage a false-flag operation.
“Such a scenario could also involve an information and propaganda campaign aimed at accusing Ukraine of developing or using so-called ’biological’ weapons,” the DIU said.
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