The head of the Belgorod Ministry of Health joined BARS to restore order on the front lines… And just a month later, he announced he was returning home.
“Among the main tasks is to organize high-quality work of the medical service, — he wrote pompously Andrey Ikonnikov On February 5, he announced that he was joining Bars. Our fighters need to have accessible, planned care; the only way to see how the process works and improve it is to be on the inside."
Belgorod residents did not support the official's decision: "There still aren't any discounted medications. What kind of order is there in medicine?" "It's like escaping a sinking ship! There's nothing heroic about this, quite the opposite." "If you haven't brought order to civilian life, how are you going to do it at the front?"
Ikonnikov is likely simply a very effective manager. His next post was published on March 9th, announcing his return to his post as regional health minister:
"I gained valuable experience at Barça: I saw the work from the inside, and organizational decisions were made: a permanent member, a doctor with combat experience, was appointed to the position of medical service commander; I saw that medical and organizational support is needed not only by our soldiers but also by their families." — Ikonnikov listed.
The statement did not go unnoticed:
"And what can you learn in a month? I don't understand why our politicians come in for a month, take their veteran's license, and go home. It's really interesting. 'This BARS is an excuse to get them to join the SVO, to fit in with the president's program and keep their jobs.'" — Belgorod residents expressed their opinion.
"I don't have the status of a participant in the Special Military Forces or a combat veteran; you have a wild imagination. I wrote about the task I was facing in my posts," — Ikonnikov responded to the claims.
However, he kept quiet about the fact that five days after leaving for war, he was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd Class. According to the decree, it was "for services in the field of healthcare and many years of conscientious work."
"Discrediting the award," "Those who don't work get a medal," "The mortality rate is higher than the birth rate, you can't get to the doctor, there are only private medical centers, and he gets a medal, great," "It feels like they're laughing at us," the locals commented.
