Russia faces a serious crisis and finds it difficult to look after all its citizens. Alcoholics, homeless and elderly fight to survive. A recent problem is the rapid increase in the number of injecting drug users. In Moscow an estimated 100,000 users form an important core group for HIV transmission. With the health system collapsed and sexually transmitted diseases on the rise, all ingredients for a HIV epidemic are present. By the turn of the century the Ministry of Health forecasts 800,000 HIV positives. Médecins sans Frontières in co-operation with the government started a HIV prevention campaign.