Why are HIV rates soaring among Russian soldiers?

Russian soldiers are testing positive for HIV at record rates.

Data from Russia’s defence ministry shows HIV rates among enlisted personnel skyrocketed since the outbreak of the Ukraine war.

This came in the backdrop of Russia already having one of the world’s largest HIV positive populations.

Over a million people are thought to be HIV positive in Russia.

But what happened? Why is this such a problem in Russia?

Let’s take a closer look:

What is happening?

HIV rates among Russian soldiers have increased at least 20 to 40 times since the Ukraine war began.

There are myriad reasons for this.

This includes soldiers in life and death situations engaging in unprotected sex and injecting drugs via shared needles to relieve psychological stress.

“They live like there’s no tomorrow”, one expert told The Times.

The lack of condoms on the front lines is also causing a surge in HIV infections. Many HIV positive soldiers are going untreated in field hospitals. The lack of sterile medical equipment such as syringes and equipment to transfuse blood in treating injured soldiers is also believed to be contributing to an increase in cases.

It also doesn’t help that Russia has been recruiting HIV positive prisoners directly from its prisons. The country has witnessed mass mobilisation since the beginning of the Ukraine war.

Ukraine authorities have claimed that at least a fifth of new Russian recruits are HIV positive. Some Russian conscripts have claimed they were offered lifesaving anti-viral HIV medicine if they would agree to fight on behalf of their country.

While antivirals do not cure HIV, they certainly reduce the viral loads. This means that those positive with HIV would be less likely to catch an infection as a result of a weakened immune system.

One Russian detainee earlier told The New York Times he was not given medication needed to survive HIV in prison.

He said he feared dying in prison as a result of those ineffective treatments. He said he was given a choice.

He could spend six months with the Wagner Group in Ukraine and be given anti-viral supplies and a pardon or remain in prison.

“Conditions were very harsh” in Russian prison, Timur said.

“I understood I would have a quick death or a slow death,” Timur said. “I chose a quick death.”

Ruslan, another HIV positive soldier with the mercenary group, told a similar tale.

Ruslan said he was sentenced to over a decade in Russia for dealing drugs.

A year into his term, he was offered a similar choice.

He too feared the medication he was receiving behind bars was ineffective. He said he was grateful for the offer as he was at least being given a chance to live.

Ruslan told the newspaper he fell sick with pneumonia at a Wagner training camp.

Experts say those on the front lines may not be receiving modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) regularly.

But this isn’t a problem for soldiers alone.

Russia in general has an HIV problem.

Why is HIV such a problem in Russia?

Over a million people are known to be HIV positive in Russia. Some say that number is closer to 1.5 million. That puts Russia among the top five countries when it comes to being burdened with HIV. Russia witnesses around 30,000 HIV-related deaths every year – most of these are working adults.

Experts also say a collapse of public health systems is to blame. They say only the rich can afford a lifetime’s supply of ART. They blame the absence of political will to solve the problem.

However, experts say the war is undoubtedly making things worse . While the health ministry tried using generic anti-HIV drugs, the war with Ukraine has disrupted the supply. Less than half the HIV patients in Russia who need these drugs are getting them.

They also also blame society’s outdated attitudes towards gay and LGBTQ communities and towards HIV in general. The LGBTQ community in Russia has been dubbed an ‘extremist movement’.

They also point the finger at Russia’s crackdown on NGOs and HIV-prevention efforts. For example, the Elton John Foundation, which provides massive support to anti-HIV NGOs, has been banned in Russia. Russian groups can no longer have any dealings with the foundation, which has been designated an  “undesirable organisation.”

It remains to be seen if Russia can solve its HIV problem or if it keeps turning a blind eye.

With inputs from agencies