Russian social network VK removes diabetes mutual aid section at internet regulator’s request

The Russian social network VK removed the mutual aid section from a diabetes community called “Nyura Sharikova. Sakharny Diabet” at Roskomnadzor’s request, the project’s founder Nyura Sharikova announced on April 21. The independent Russian investigative outlet iStories drew attention to her statement.

The removed section, called “I’ll Give Away Insulin,” had allowed members of the VK group — which has 32,000 subscribers — to freely give away or exchange blood glucose test strips, glucometers, and insulin needles, and to find insulin or continuous glucose monitoring systems.

Sharikova learned from VK’s support service that the section had been removed at Roskomnadzor’s request, on the basis of a ruling by Roszdravnadzor, Russia’s health products regulator, dated March 18. The ruling itself was not shown to her. A VK representative stated that the platform would not be able to restore content removed at a government agency’s request.

Judging by the VK group, Sharikova has since restored the “I’ll Give Away Insulin” section, though it contains no posts.

Data from the U.N. and the WHO as of early 2025 show that nearly 5.5 million people in Russia have diabetes — and specialists say up to half of all cases go undetected.

People with diabetes in Russia have complained of disruptions in drug supplies caused by procurement problems. In March, the Russian business daily Vedomosti reported that endocrinologists proposed that diabetes medications be dispensed primarily to working-age patients.