Russia population crisis: President Vladimir Putin urges Russian women to have 8 or more children
Moscow, December 1: Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressing the World Russian People's Council in Moscow, urged women in the country to consider having larger families of up to eight children, emphasising the need to make this a societal norm. This call to action comes amidst Russia's declining birth rate since the 1990s and the significant casualties incurred since the initiation of the Ukraine War in February the prior year, as reported by 'The Independent'.
During his address, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the cultural tradition of multigenerational families with several children, urging the revival and preservation of these values. He stressed the importance of large families, framing them not only as the foundation of society, but also as a spiritual and moral cornerstone.
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The President underscored the imperative to boost Russia's population, outlining it as a long-term objective for the nation's future. He labeled this as essential for the preservation of Russia's historical and eternal legacy.
The conference, organised by the head of Russia's Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, witnessed the participation of representatives from various traditional Russian organisations, 'The Independent' reported.
Though Putin's comments did not directly reference the scale of casualties from the Ukraine War, several media outlets have linked his call for larger families to the conflict.
Citing UK's defense ministry estimates, reports suggested casualties in Ukraine had likely surpassed 300,000. Additionally, an independent Russian policy group, Re:Russia, reported a significant exodus from the country, estimating that between 820,000 to 920,000 individuals have fled.
Russia faces multiple challenges, including a severe workforce shortage and economic slowdown due to the imposition of sanctions by Western nations following the Ukraine War.
According to 'The Independent', Russia's population stood at 146,447,424 as of January 1, 2023, indicating a decline from the figures recorded in 1999 when Putin assumed the presidency.
- With inputs from agencies
