Russia has ‍detained the chief doctor and ​acting head of the ‌intensive care unit ​at a Siberian maternity hospital after the deaths of nine newborn babies, investigators said on Wednesday (January 14, 2026).

Russia’s State Investigative Committee said that ​the doctors had been detained ⁠on suspicion of causing death through negligence. It was not immediately ​possible to ⁠reach the doctors or their lawyers.

“As a result of the suspects’ improper performance ‌of their official and ‌professional duties in organising and providing medical care… ‍nine newborns who were born between 1 December 2025 ‍and 12 January 2026 died,” the Committee said.

The case, reported by state and independent news outlets, provoked widespread outrage in Russia.

Politicians, commentators and ordinary ⁠Russians asked how the country could hope to ​raise its birth rate — a ⁠priority set by President Vladimir Putin — if such tragedies were allowed to happen.