October 11, 2021
1 min read

Russia accused of stealing AstraZeneca vaccine blueprint

Russia’s Sputnik jab uses similar technology to the Oxford designed vaccine….reports  Sanjeev Sharma

 Russia stole the formula for the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine and used it to help create its own Sputnik jab, UK Ministers have been told, The Sun reported.

Security services have said that they have proof that one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spies swiped the vital data from the drugs firm, including the blueprint for the Covid jab, The Sun newspaper report said.

Russia’s Sputnik jab uses similar technology to the Oxford designed vaccine.

The security teams are now sure it was copied. It is understood the data was stolen by a foreign agent in person, the report said.

Last year, spies blamed Putin, saying they were “more than 95 per cent” sure that Russian state-sponsored hackers had targeted British, American and Canadian bodies developing a Covid vaccine.

Late UK Security Minister James Brokenshire said at the time: “We are very careful in terms of calling these things out, ensuring we can have that confidence in attribution. We believe we have this here.”

Conservative MP Bob Seely, an expert in Russian affairs, said: “I think we need to get serious about Russian and Chinese espionage. Whether it is stealing the design for AstraZeneca or blackmailing us over energy by these authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, we need to get wise to them.”

The claims come just months after Putin confirmed that he had received a shot of the Sputnik V vaccine as he urged Russians to get vaccinated against Covid, Daily Mail reported.

ALSO READ: ‘Military equipment left behind in Afghanistan will benefit Russia, China’

Previous Story

Dubai unveils PPP projects worth AED25 billion

Next Story

Mohammed bin Rashid receives credentials of new envoys to UAE

Latest from -Top News

Uganda’s President Museveni to seek reelection

The upcoming general elections will not only determine the presidency but also see voters elect lawmakers to the national assembly Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni is set to seek reelection for another term

Eritrea seeks to end UN probe into abuses

The mandate in question is held by the Special Rapporteur, a position currently occupied by Sudanese human rights lawyer Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker In a rare and potentially precedent-setting move, Eritrea is attempting

Alps Turn to ‘Swiss Cheese’

Switzerland’s reliance on glacial runoff for hydroelectric power faces growing risk — as glaciers shrink, short-term water flow may rise, but long-term shortages could threaten energy and water supplies. Switzerland’s glaciers —

Burn Notice for Europe

As summer unfolds, Europe is bracing for what may be the first of many extreme heatwaves. Europe braced for its first major heatwave of the northern hemisphere summer on Saturday, with soaring
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Israel reports 11 new monkeypox cases

The number of monkeypox cases in Israel rose to 66

Russian troops enter Kiev

Ukrainian armed forces said forces “continued to resist” Russian forces