Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, a close advisor to President Vladimir Putin, has declared plans to clone an army of ancient Scythian Horse Lords using DNA recovered from 3,000-year-old remains found in Siberia’s permafrost. The Scythian burials, discovered in the Republic of Tuva, include well-preserved warrior skeletons and horses, offering a rare opportunity to extract viable genetic material. Shoigu hopes that military scientists can replicate and extend the cloning success demonstrated by Dolly the Sheep, aiming to recreate both the warriors and their horses. The announcement was made at an online session of the Russian Geographical Society, which Shoigu heads.
To pursue cloning, Shoigu has assembled a team of Russian and Swiss archaeologists tasked with collecting DNA samples from these ancient sites, overseen by a shaman to honor traditional practices. The technique they aim to apply involves nuclear transfer, where the nucleus of a donor cell is implanted into an egg cell after its nucleus is removed. Russian officials acknowledge the difficulties involved but remain optimistic about the project’s potential. However, experts outside Russia note that cloning humans or ancient complex animals remains scientifically unproven and ethically contentious. The announcement coincides with Russia’s military buildup near the Ukrainian border, leading analysts to suspect the project may serve as state propaganda.
The plan to clone Scythian warriors highlights longstanding fascination with reviving extinct or ancient species, yet it also underscores the practical and ethical challenges of cloning complex organisms from ancient DNA. While cloning single cells and some animals has been achieved, complete cloning of humans or long-extinct mammals has not. The historical significance of the Scythians, nomadic warriors who dominated the Eurasian steppe between the 3rd century BC and 7th century AD, lends symbolic weight to the announcement. If successful, it would represent a breakthrough in genetic science and military technology, but this project remains speculative amid scientific skepticism and geopolitical tensions.
Source: Ancient Code
