[Goose]

Question for Goose and others knowledgeable on the Ukraine/Russia war:

Is either side capable of biological warfare? Would either side consider it?

Russia certainly is. Ukraine probably is not and would have to put forth lots of effort to acquire the capability. Neither side is very likely to use it. One reason is that many possible diseases can easily spread from Ukraine to Russia as well as visa-versa. You don't want your troops operating in contaminated areas. The other is that the opprobrium associated with such action would trump any benefits obtained.

The reason chemical and biological weapons are seldom used in near-peer wars isn't that mankind is "civilized". It is rather that the benefit/cost ratio is not favorable. In other words, don't use these weapons if the other side can reply in kind. Biological weapons are also very difficult to control. Most nations don't want to take the risk it harms them as much or more than the enemy.

[Goose]

Question for Goose and others knowledgeable on the Ukraine/Russia war:

Is either side capable of biological warfare? Would either side consider it?

Russia certainly is. Ukraine probably is not and would have to put forth lots of effort to acquire the capability. Neither side is very likely to use it. One reason is that many possible diseases can easily spread from Ukraine to Russia as well as visa-versa. You don't want your troops operating in contaminated areas. The other is that the opprobrium associated with such action would trump any benefits obtained.

The reason chemical and biological weapons are seldom used in near-peer wars isn't that mankind is "civilized". It is rather that the benefit/cost ratio is not favorable. In other words, don't use these weapons if the other side can reply in kind. Biological weapons are also very difficult to control. Most nations don't want to take the risk it harms them as much or more than the enemy.