New COVID-19 variant XFG detected in 14 regions across Russia

A new COVID-19 variant known as XFG has been identified in 14 regions across Russia, with a total of 114 confirmed cases to date.

According to Kamil Khafizov, head of the genomic research laboratory at the Russian Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology (Rospotrebnadzor), the strain is highly contagious but poses a low risk to health, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

“The majority of cases, approximately 54%, have been recorded in Moscow,” Khafizov said.

In addition to the capital, cases have been detected in the Magadan region, Altai Krai, Moscow region, Vologda and Kaliningrad regions, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Smolensk and Chelyabinsk regions, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Sverdlovsk region, the Republic of Altai, Irkutsk region, and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

The expert also noted that the first case of the XFG variant in Russia was identified on April 24, 2025.

By Aghakazim Guliyev