Russian soldiers serving in Ukraine have come forward with disturbing allegations of negligence and mistreatment by medical institutions in their country.
Wounded participants from Volgograd have reported violations of their rights, claiming they are being denied necessary operations and hastily sent back to the Northern Military District zone. These accusations suggest a grave disparity between the care promised to servicemen by Vladimir Putin’s government and the reality they face on the ground.
Maxim, a 21-year-old contract soldier, shared his harrowing experience with Russian channel V1RU, after sustaining a serious injury during an assault.
Despite enduring months of pain with a shrapnel lodged in his leg, Maxim was repeatedly deemed fit for duty by military medical commissions. His pleas for proper medical attention fell on deaf ears, leaving him to suffer in agony as he was continuously redeployed.
Similarly, Alexander, aged 36, recounted his ordeal of being denied essential treatment for a knee injury sustained in combat. Despite medical evidence indicating the urgent need for surgery, military doctors brushed aside his complaints and labeled him a malingerer.
The dire situation forced Alexander to seek assistance from a human rights activist, Roman Pronin, who uncovered a disturbing pattern of neglect within military medical facilities.
Konstantin, a 40-year-old former serviceman, also shared his struggle to receive adequate care after sustaining injuries during his military service. Despite multiple recommendations for surgery, Konstantin was repeatedly denied treatment, with hospital administrators citing an alleged directive from higher authorities.
These troubling accounts have prompted Mr Pronin and the affected soldiers to appeal directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as top officials in the Russian Investigative Committee and Prosecutor General’s Office, in a video message.
Their plea highlights the urgent need for intervention to address the systemic failures in providing medical care to military personnel.
In response to inquiries, Rasul Musaev, the head of the military hospital in Volgograd, denied any restrictions on medical care and maintained that operations and hospitalisations are proceeding as usual.
However, the stark contrast between official statements and the lived experiences of soldiers raises serious questions about accountability and transparency within the Russian military healthcare system.
