2024-02-15 19:09:26
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday urged Russian families to have at least two children in order to preserve the nation’s ethnic identity and to have three or more so that the country can grow and prosper.
Since it launched its war on Ukraine nearly two years ago, Russia has suffered significant human losses, but their numbers are not announced, and hundreds of thousands have fled because of their opposition to the conflict or fear of being called to fight.
Putin told employees at a tank factory in the Ural region that two children per family is the minimum if Russian residents want to preserve their identity.
He added: “If we want to survive as an ethnic group, or as ethnic groups settling in Russia, we must have at least two children.”
He continued: “If each family gives birth to only one child, the population will shrink. In order to grow and develop, you need at least three children.”
Russia suffered over two decades of gradual population decline following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The official statistics office estimated that Russia’s population reached 146.4 million people at the beginning of 2023, down from regarding 149 million people 20 years ago, but higher than 143 million between 2007 and 2012.
1708026868
#Race #stake #Putin #extends #invitation #Russians
