Russian Military Institute Allegedly Conducts Human Experiments to Test Weapons and Vaccines
A recent investigation by the independent Russian media outlet Proekt has revealed alarming claims about the State Military Medical Institute under Russia's Ministry of Defense. The institute is reportedly the only authorized military body in Russia conducting human trials to test ammunition, drugs, and vaccines, aiming to enhance the Russian army's combat capabilities in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The research includes evaluating which types of ammunition are more effective at "destroying or neutralizing enemy personnel," a phrase that conceals a disturbing reality.
According to the report, over 300 cases of military personnel participating in these tests were documented during the first year of the institute's clinical research center operation. These participants, including volunteer soldiers, are used to assess the medical and physical effects of military experiments. British former officer and chemical and biological weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon told The Sun that the use of humans as "guinea pigs" reflects the Putin regime's disregard for human life. He noted that vulnerable and impoverished individuals might be drawn to such experiments for money or other promises, linking this practice to Russia's broader approach to the Ukraine conflict, where Moscow reportedly devalues human life and is willing to send large numbers of soldiers to the front lines.
The revelations coincide with the UK imposing sanctions on seven Russian citizens and two research institutes, including the State Military Medical Institute, for their alleged involvement in developing deadly poisons such as Novichok and A-234 (also known as BZ). Novichok gained international notoriety after the 2018 Salisbury poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, as well as the death of British citizen Dawn Sturgess. The UK also associates these sanctions with Russia's suspected use of poisons against opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in Russian custody after years of persecution and poisoning attempts.
Ukraine claims thousands of chemical attacks against its forces since Russia's 2022 invasion, with increased use of toxic ammunition in recent years. Russia denies many such allegations, but Western experts warn of the dangers of combining chemical weapons with disinformation and false accusations. De Bretton-Gordon emphasized that Novichok is a complex and highly dangerous substance, not easily produced, but Russia remains one of the few countries capable of manufacturing it in significant quantities.
While these human experimentation claims rely mainly on independent investigations without official confirmation from Moscow, the combination of these reports, British sanctions, and the ongoing war paints a troubling picture of a military system willing to push the boundaries of acceptable research far beyond Western norms.
