(Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that in order to ensure the survival and prosperity of the nation’s ethnic groups, Russian families should aim to have at least two children, and ideally three or more.
Since Russia began its war in Ukraine nearly two years ago, the country has faced significant but undisclosed casualties, leading to the departure of hundreds of thousands of people due to opposition to the conflict or fear of being conscripted to fight.
Speaking at a tank factory in the Urals region, Putin emphasized the importance of each family having a minimum of two children in order to preserve the identity of the Russian people.
He explained that if each family had only one child, the population would decrease, and in order to grow and thrive, at least three children were necessary.
Putin has consistently expressed support for “traditional values” centered around family, nation, and the Orthodox Christian faith during his 24-year tenure. Under his leadership, Russia has implemented strict limitations on the expression of sexual orientation and gender identity and has labeled the “LGBT movement” as “extremist”.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia experienced a 20-year period of population decline exacerbated by issues such as alcoholism.
According to the state statistics bureau, the population was estimated at 146.4 million at the beginning of 2023, marking a decrease from nearly 149 million 20 years prior but an increase from a low of about 143 million between 2007 and 2012.
(Reporting by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
