Russia plans to test every third citizen for HIV
The Russian Ministry of Health proposes to drastically expand HIV testing to cover up to one-third of the population, citing the need for early detection of the infection and curbing its spread. At the same time, international data show that the prevalence of HIV in Russia remains high and comparable to rates in African countries, according to Russian media reports.
Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko stated that the country needs to significantly expand medical screening of the population for HIV, and that the optimal goal is to test every third citizen. According to him, this level of coverage will allow for the detection of the infection in its early stages and reduce the risks of further spread.
“The goal regarding HIV infection is to reduce the incidence rate. Further expansion of medical screening coverage is necessary. Every third citizen must be tested, with special attention paid to at-risk groups,” Murashko stated, as reported by the ministry’s press service. In essence, this refers to a large-scale screening program, which, according to the Russian Ministry of Health, is intended to become the primary tool for controlling the epidemic.
According to Rospotrebnadzor, more than 54 million people were tested in Russia in 2024, accounting for approximately 37% of the population. This is a record figure for at least the last decade—7% higher than in 2023, and nearly double the number from 2014, when approximately 28.3 million people were tested.
Despite this, the prevalence of HIV in the country remains high. According to WHO data cited in relevant studies, Russia has approximately 890 infected people per 100,000 population. For comparison, the figures are comparable in a number of African countries: Guinea—874, Liberia—944, Chad—771, and Ethiopia—601. Meanwhile, in European countries, the rate is significantly lower: in France—358, in the United Kingdom—191, in Sweden—171
The increase in testing scale against the backdrop of a consistently high prevalence of infection effectively indicates that the control system is attempting to offset epidemiological pressure through mass screening of the population. At the same time, experts cited by specialized media outlets emphasize that the testing rate alone does not guarantee a reduction in morbidity without systematic prevention and accessible treatment.
Journalists have also identified the names of 212,188 Russian soldiers who have died since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine.
Russian forces carried out a massive drone attack on the energy infrastructure of Zhytomyr Oblast, concentrating the strike of approximately 20 drones on a single substation.
