Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to Russia’s declining birth rate, has launched an unusual initiative: encouraging Russians to have sex during their work breaks, Metro.co.uk reported. The move aims to address the country’s fertility rate, which is currently at about 1.5 children per woman, falling short of the 2.1 rate needed for population stability.
‘The preservation of the Russian people is our highest national priority,’ Putin said, as reported by Metro.
‘The fate of Russia….depends on how many of us there will be. It is a question of national importance,’ the Russian president added.
This push comes as Russia faces a population decline, worsened by the emigration of over one million younger citizens due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Putin has made clear that reversing the population decline is a top national priority, declaring that the country’s future depends on how many people remain.
Russian health minister Dr. Yevgeny Shestopalov supports the new policy, dismissing busy work schedules as a reason for not having children. “You can have children during breaks,” he said. When questioned about how those with long hours could manage, he simply replied, “During break times,” Metro.co.uk reported.
This policy is part of a wider Kremlin effort to increase the birth rate. Women in Moscow are now offered free fertility checks to assess their reproductive health. Additionally, MP Tatyana Butskaya has proposed that employers track and report their employees’ birth rates, aiming to boost the number of births each year.
In the Chelyabinsk region, young women are being offered £8,500 for the birth of their first child as an incentive. The government is also making it harder to access abortions and increasing divorce fees, with public figures and church leaders advocating for higher birth rates as a national duty.
Politicians like Anna Kuznetsova and Zhanna Ryabtseva are calling for women to start having children at a younger age, suggesting that early childbearing could lead to larger families.
Putin moves to expand Russian army to 2nd largest in the world
President Putin also ordered a major expansion of the Russian military. The plan calls for increasing the number of troops by 180,000, raising the total force to 2.38 million, with 1.5 million being active personnel. This would make Russia’s army the second largest in the world, following China.
This expansion follows previous increases in military personnel since the start of the Ukraine invasion in 2022. With ongoing conflict and heavy losses, the expansion is part of a strategy to adapt to current global conditions and strengthen national security.
‘The preservation of the Russian people is our highest national priority,’ Putin said, as reported by Metro.
‘The fate of Russia….depends on how many of us there will be. It is a question of national importance,’ the Russian president added.
This push comes as Russia faces a population decline, worsened by the emigration of over one million younger citizens due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Putin has made clear that reversing the population decline is a top national priority, declaring that the country’s future depends on how many people remain.
Russian health minister Dr. Yevgeny Shestopalov supports the new policy, dismissing busy work schedules as a reason for not having children. “You can have children during breaks,” he said. When questioned about how those with long hours could manage, he simply replied, “During break times,” Metro.co.uk reported.
This policy is part of a wider Kremlin effort to increase the birth rate. Women in Moscow are now offered free fertility checks to assess their reproductive health. Additionally, MP Tatyana Butskaya has proposed that employers track and report their employees’ birth rates, aiming to boost the number of births each year.
In the Chelyabinsk region, young women are being offered £8,500 for the birth of their first child as an incentive. The government is also making it harder to access abortions and increasing divorce fees, with public figures and church leaders advocating for higher birth rates as a national duty.
Politicians like Anna Kuznetsova and Zhanna Ryabtseva are calling for women to start having children at a younger age, suggesting that early childbearing could lead to larger families.
Putin moves to expand Russian army to 2nd largest in the world
President Putin also ordered a major expansion of the Russian military. The plan calls for increasing the number of troops by 180,000, raising the total force to 2.38 million, with 1.5 million being active personnel. This would make Russia’s army the second largest in the world, following China.
This expansion follows previous increases in military personnel since the start of the Ukraine invasion in 2022. With ongoing conflict and heavy losses, the expansion is part of a strategy to adapt to current global conditions and strengthen national security.
Source : Times of India
