Kremlin's military priorities take toll on Russian citizens - UK intelligence
Photo: The war hit the people of Russia from an unexpected direction (Getty Images)
Russia's prioritization of war financing over social needs has resulted in severe underfunding of its healthcare system, causing shortages of medical personnel, specialists, and equipment, the UK Ministry of Defense reports.
According to the update, Russia’s high battlefield casualties - with over 500,000 wounded soldiers - continue to strain its military medical system, leading to logistical challenges and a shortage of military medical staff.
"This negatively affects care delivery and has likely led to the diversion of medical resource from the domestic civilian population to the military, further contributing to the large-scale impact to civilian hospitals," the report states.
According to UK intelligence forecasts, the number of medical workers in Russian hospitals serving the civilian population will continue to decline throughout 2025.
Reports indicate that in 2024, at least 160 public hospitals were closed in Russia, including 18 maternity facilities and at least 10 children's clinics. Due to the closure of hospitals, civilians in small towns and villages are often left without medical care, including limited pre-hospital services, the UK Ministry of Defense noted.
According to the independent Levada Center, support for the war against Ukraine among Russian citizens has reached a maximum. In February 2025, the level of war support reached 80%, a figure previously recorded in March 2022.
