KYIV, Feb 10 - Ukraine has formally banned registration of Russian-designed vaccines against coronavirus, Reuters reported Wednesday citing the government’s decree.

Ukraine has lagged behind others in starting its vaccination program against COVID-19, which has infected more than 1.25 million Ukrainians and killed 23,934 as of Feb. 10.

But Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly said the country will not use Russian vaccines, like Sputnik V, calling them "a hybrid weapon of Russia against Ukraine".