Russia accuses US of planning to drop malaria-bearing mosquitoes on troops

A senior Kremlin official bizarrely accused the US of preparing drones that will target Russian troops by dropping malaria-carrying mosquitos onto soldiers.

Igor Kirillov, the head of Vladimir Putin’s Russian Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops, made the baseless claim this week as Ukraine captured its eighth village two weeks after launching their anticipated counteroffensive.

“The flooding of Kherson region planned by the Kyiv regime can complicate the situation, including with regard to arbovirus infections,” Kirillov said, referencing the recent Kakhova dam collapse in southern Ukraine.

“After a drop in the water level, it is possible to form foci of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, primarily West Nile fever,” he said, according to the Daily Mail. 

“The high technical level of US preparedness for the use of infected vectors is evidenced by a patent for a drone designed to spread infected mosquitoes in the air.”

Kirillov did not provide any additional details about the alleged patent but said, “In accordance with the description, the drone must deliver a container with insects to a given area and release them.”

“The description of the patent emphasizes that the infected soldier is not able to perform the combat missions assigned to him.”

The odd claim comes as Ukraine announced Monday it reclaimed a new village from Russia — its eighth over the course of two weeks of “offensive operations.”

Kyiv’s soldiers held up yellow and blue national flags in a video, which claimed they were in Piatykhatky, a village near one of the most heavily fortified Russian positions in the south.

“The forces of 128 assault brigade chased out the Russians from the village of Piatykhatky. The Russians ran away leaving equipment and ammunition. Glory to Ukraine!” an unidentified soldier said.

Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official, also said Sunday that Ukraine had taken control of the village of Piatykhatky in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.

Rogov later said Moscow pushed them out — but by Monday morning Ukraine was attacking again.

Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar on Monday refuted the claim that Moscow had pushed Ukrainian forces out, noting that Ukraine had not only taken back Piatykhatky but advanced over four miles into Russian lines in two weeks.