In 27 Russian regions, the HIV epidemic has spread beyond specific high-risk groups and reached broader segments of the population. Experts describe this situation as a generalized epidemic, a stage in which the virus also spreads among the general population.
According to Vasily Akimkin, director of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, more than 1% of pregnant women in these regions are diagnosed with HIV. The situation is particularly severe in Kemerovo, Irkutsk and Sverdlovsk regions.
In 2025, Russia recorded 45,000 new HIV infections, a 13.4% decrease compared with 2024. However, the decline in new infections has not yet reduced the overall burden of the disease. Between 30,000 and 34,000 people living with HIV die in the country each year.
According to data presented by specialist Natalia Ladnaya, by the end of 2025, only about half of people living with HIV had managed to achieve viral suppression. At least 600,000 people continue to actively contribute to the transmission of the virus. Among those receiving treatment, the viral suppression rate stood at 77.9%, while the World Health Organization estimates that it must reach at least 95% to bring the epidemic under control.
Russia's draft 2027 state budget provides additional funding for medication for just 30,000 newly infected people. According to Akimkin, Russia, Ukraine and North Macedonia recorded the highest HIV incidence rates per 100,000 people in Europe. Experts cite problems with the effectiveness of antiretroviral treatment as one possible reason for high mortality and the continued spread of the virus.
Cases of infection in healthcare facilities have also raised particular concern. In 2025, eight clusters involving the transmission of HIV and hepatitis were identified, with 104 patients infected while receiving medical care. One contributing factor was the violation of sanitary and epidemiological regulations, including the repeated use of individual catheters and blood glucose meters.
The decline in new infections is a positive trend, but it does not in itself mean that the epidemic is under control. If viral suppression is achieved in only a portion of people living with HIV, the risk of transmission remains. Meanwhile, high mortality rates indicate that the problem extends beyond the detection of new cases.
The effectiveness of treatment is directly linked to access to medication. The funding proposed in the draft budget for 30,000 newly infected people is not, by itself, sufficient to determine whether the allocated resources will meet actual needs. At the same time, infections recorded in healthcare facilities show that prevention also requires strict compliance with safety regulations. To assess the future trend in new cases, it is important to monitor not only infection rates but also treatment outcomes and deaths caused by the disease.
