Russian army chaos as soldiers struck down by epidemic of deadly diseases

By John Varga, World News Reporter

Russian soldiers out on patrol in Mariupol (Image: Getty)

An epidemic of deadly infectious diseases are spreading through the Russian army, threatening to further debilitate the Kremlin's frontline units during the Ukraine war. Vladimir Putin's army has sustained massive losses, suffering over one million casualties since the full-scale invasion of February 2022.

Foreign intelligence agencies estimate that Russia is losing between 1,000 and 1,200 soldiers killed or injured every day. Adding to the Kremlin's problems, reports suggest that soldiers are being infected with a number of lethal viruses. A prominent Kremlin propagandist - Anastasia Kashevarova - claimed diseases such as Hepatitis C, HIV and tuberculosis were spreading rapidly through the ranks. She said the army was unable to provide adequate treatment and there was a risk of these diseases infecting the Russian population at large, as sick soldiers return home to their families.

Officials Tour a TB Ward At Matrosskasya Tishina Prison in Russia (Image: Getty)

The pro-war blogger claimed the medical system in the Russian army was completely broken. The sick are not treated and there is practically no prevention, meaning the diseases are able to spread easily.

Soldiers with hepatitis and HIV continue to serve on an equal footing with everyone else. They share trenches with "healthy" soldiers and are treated in the same operating theatres.

The situation is being exacerbated by the large presence of former convicts in frontline units - many of whom arrived at the front already carrying the deadly viruses.

According to Kashevarova, drugs are actively circulating in certain units, provoking new waves of infection through injection use.

She adds that the infected soldiers pose a serious health risk to their families and wider Russian society, when they return home from the front.

Symptoms of HIV and Hepatitis C do not always show up immediately, increasing the risk of transmission.

"Citizens really need to think about whether there is a threat of an epidemic of socially dangerous diseases," the propagandist warned.

Russia has a high prevalence of Hepatitis C, with an estimated 4.1% of the population infected. This translates to roughly 5 million people, making Russia the European country with the highest number of HCV infections.