British Defence Intelligence: Russia's focus on war efforts causes healthcare crisis

The UK Ministry of Defence has reported that Russia's focus on financing its war in Ukraine has led to severe underfunding of its healthcare system, resulting in hospital closures and worsening medical services for civilians.

"At least 160 public hospitals were reportedly closed in Russia in 2024, including 18 maternity facilities and at least 10 children's clinics," the ministry stated in its latest intelligence update on X, Caliber.Az reports. 

The closures have disproportionately affected small towns and rural areas, where access to medical care is now significantly reduced.

The assessment also highlighted that "Russia's prioritisation of funding the war in Ukraine has highly likely resulted in insufficient funding for healthcare. This has led to shortages of medical staff, expertise, and equipment in the Russian medical system."

Additionally, the UK defence ministry pointed to the strain on Russia’s military medical services due to heavy battlefield casualties, reporting that over 500,000 Russian service personnel have been wounded so far.

"It is almost certain the scale of Russian casualties continues to strain the Russian Military Medical System at all levels of medical care, causing significant logistic problems and resulting in a shortage of military medical personnel," the report stated.

The ministry further warned that the diversion of medical resources from civilian hospitals to military needs is exacerbating the crisis, with healthcare professionals leaving the civilian sector. "The number of healthcare professionals in Russian hospitals serving the domestic civilian population will likely continue to decrease throughout 2025," the statement concluded.

By Aghakazim Guliyev