Russia sends HIV-infected soldiers on combat missions: Intel interception
Photo: Russian soldier (Getty Images)
Russian military forces are deploying occupiers with HIV infection for combat missions at the front, even despite medical commission findings that they are unfit for service, according to intelligence data from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) published an audio interception of a conversation involving a Russian serviceman.
According to the intelligence agency, the serviceman is a member of the 1st Separate Motor Rifle Brigade of the Russian army, which operates in the Pokrovsk direction.
As the HUR noted, the Russian serviceman was diagnosed with HIV infection. Without the necessary medication, the disease can lead to complications. At the same time, back in February, a military medical commission declared the serviceman unfit for service.
Despite this, he continued to be assigned combat missions. According to the intelligence agency, the Russian command also declared the serviceman a deserter.
"The occupier has an HIV infection, which leads to complications without the necessary medication. Moreover, back in February, a medical commission declared him unfit for service, but this did not prevent him from being assigned combat missions," the Defense Ministry’s press service said.
In the intercepted conversation, the Russian serviceman himself says that he was discharged based on a decision by the military medical commission, but did not wait for the final decision and was consequently listed as being absent without leave (SOCh).
The HUR said the case demonstrates problems with medical support and the treatment of servicemen in the Russian army.
The intelligence agency also noted that deploying servicemen who had previously been declared unfit for service in assault operations creates additional risks for the Russian army itself.
Earlier, over the past several days, Ukraine’s Defense Forces managed to thwart a number of offensive operations by the Russian army and also improve their positions in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
120,000 people will be drafted into the Russian army in the fall.
