The Russian Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defence Troops chief Igor Kirillov revealed during a fresh briefing on Friday, providing new information on US military biological activities in Ukraine, and also gave details on what his forces know about 'monkeypox', the smallpox cousin which is causing a global health scare.

The Pentagon introduced a mandatory smallpox vaccination back in 2003, with US diplomats and medical personnel being also required to be jabbed against the infectious disease, and that "This indicates that the United States considers the smallpox pathogen as a priority pathogenic agent for combat use, and ongoing vaccination measures are aimed at protecting their own military contingents," Kirillov said.

Further stating that "The Pentagon's interest in this infection is far from accidental. The return of the causitive agent of smallpox would be a global catastrophe for all of humanity," and Kirillov suggested, emphasizing that smallpox is ten times more lethal than COVID-19.