Russia: HIV reaches epidemic levels in 27 regions of the country

In Russia, HIV has reached the stage of a widespread epidemic in 27 regions, Euronews reported on November 9, 2026. More than 1.23 million people have a confirmed diagnosis.

HIV continues to spread throughout Russia. The country has more than 1.23 million people with a confirmed HIV diagnosis, according to Euronews, in an article published this Monday presenting the 2025 figures and 2026 data. While new cases are expected to decline by 13.4% in 2025, to 45,000, the number of people living with the virus continues to rise.

The health agency Rospotrebnadzor classifies 27 regions as experiencing a generalized epidemic: HIV is circulating in the general population and affects more than 1% of pregnant women. Kemerovo, Irkutsk, and Sverdlovsk are the most affected territories. Heterosexual contact accounts for two-thirds of new infections in the country.

Screening remains insufficient

Medical monitoring involves 846,500 people, approximately 385,500 fewer than the total number of confirmed diagnoses. By the end of 2025, only half of people living with HIV had a suppressed viral load. Despite 54 million tests conducted that year, screening remained insufficiently targeted towards the most at-risk populations.

Infections in healthcare settings exacerbate this situation: eight outbreaks of HIV or hepatitis affected 104 patients in 2025. In 2026, eleven suspected outbreaks were under investigation, and two cases of HIV transmission through transfusion were identified. The proposed 2027 budget provides additional treatment for only 30,000 new patients, compared to 45,000 new diagnoses in 2025.