Russia, which continues to invade Ukraine, is now experiencing a rapid population decline. One of the reasons behind this is the decision of people of child-rearing age to leave the country and not return, saying, “I don’t want to raise my children in this country.”
Anya, who fled to Portugal
“They instill in us the propaganda of violence and war. ‘Dying is a noble thing, go and die (on the battlefield).’ I don’t want my children to grow up in that kind of environment.”
Anya fled to Portugal and left Russia, but thinking about her future child, she decided not to return to her country.
Anya
“Anything is possible[in Russia today]. The authorities will do anything, without listening to the voice of the people. It’s a world where someone at the top can fundamentally change something in your life at any time. It’s impossible to make long-term plans for the future.”
Russian Spokesperson Peskov
“It’s catastrophic for our future. There are catastrophically low numbers (of babies being born).”
Only 599,600 newborns were born in Russia in the first half of this year, a drop to levels last seen in the chaotic period following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
In addition to the declining birth rate, the population is also declining due to the large number of people of child-rearing age who have left Russia with the intention of not returning.
Polina, who fled to Argentina
“(When I left Russia, customs officials) wrote the word ‘Peace’ in Cyrillic on a piece of paper. I cried as the burden of the arduous flight was lifted.”
Polina Zhukovskaya fled to Argentina in May 2022, desperately pregnant.
Children born there are given Argentinean citizenship, so there is a steady stream of people heading to Argentina from Russia.
Polina
“I don’t want to go back. I tell people I know: ‘The best thing I can give my children is a childhood in Argentina.'”
It is estimated that at least 650,000 young people like Polina have decided not to return to Russia and have left the country.
In addition to the outflow of child-rearing age, deaths from the war are accelerating Russia’s population decline.
According to the BBC and other sources, the number of Russian soldiers killed in the war is estimated at around 70,000, although the actual number is believed to be much higher.
A source close to the Russian presidential office said, “If Russia continues with this special military operation, its national power will only continue to decline.”
