Russia's COVID-19 tally worsens as Putin continues redirecting resources to Ukraine

Russia’s COVID-19 case tally grew by 4,956 last day, taking tally to 18,260,293, country’s anti-coronavirus centre reported on Sunday. country has been reeling from a sharp decline in population pertaining to coronavirus deaths. Now, as Putin ministration continues to send healthy men to Ukrainian battlefield, threat of population loss has exacerbated. Furrmore, with pivotal resources being utilised to salvage ongoing war, residents are faced with never seen before challenges. 

At least 377,670 have lost ir lives since COVID-19 pandemic hit country, according to a tally presented by Worldometers. country has taken several measures including imposition of quarantines, carrying out raids on potential virus carriers, and using facial recognition to segregate potential infections. Last year, Moscow h also extended public holidays in a bid to keep people back at home and curb public interactions.

Hospitals flooded with injured troops 

While government has been ramping up efforts to stop infection, ongoing war has versely affected situation. For past 82 days, Putin ministration has been channelising resources towards its ‘special military operation in Ukraine, leaving little for residents back home. Hospitals have witnessed a massive influx of wounded military men and civilians. Meanwhile, billions of Russian roubles are being used to procure equipment and support battling troops. Notably, war has also triggered nationwide protests wherein hundreds of thousands of people coalescent, increasing possibility of spreing coronavirus.

Meanwhile, war has now entered its 12th week with Russia's troops bolstering attacks on Ukraine's south and east. Notably, it has also increased shelling on western city of Lviv, aiming to cut country's supplies from west. Amidst all this, Moscow has been using scrap metal from household appliances, computer chips, dishwashers and refrigerators for its military hardware due to Western sanctions, a top US official has claimed. “We have reports from Ukrainians that when y find Russian military equipment on ground, it’s filled with semiconductors that y took out of dishwashers and refrigerators,” Gina Raimondo, United States Secretary of Commerce who recently met with Ukraine’s prime minister Zelenskyy said at Senate hearing on May 11. 

(Image: AP)