UK’s ministry: Russia unable to solve demographic dilemma by imposing fines

UK’s Defence Ministry has announced that Russia’s efforts to address the demographic issue are unlikely to succeed as fines for supporters of the "childfree" movement will be ineffective. 

"A Russian court in Sevastopol in illegally annexed Crimea has fined a local woman 50,000 rubles [approximately $500] for alleged childfree propaganda," Caliber.Az reports via the ministry’s message on X. 

According to independent Russian media, Novaya Gazeta Europe, this is reportedly the first time such a fine has been issued in either Russia, or in Ukrainian territory illegally annexed by Russia. Putin signed the law banning 'propaganda' claimed to be spreading 'childfree ideology' in November 2024.

The legislation reportedly imposes fines of up to 400,000 rubles (approximately $4,100) for individuals, and up to 5 million rubles (approximately $51,000) for organisations convicted, in a further expansion of the Russian state's increasingly repressive powers. 

The law is almost certainly intended in part to address the serious demographic problem of Russia's ageing and declining population. This is further accentuated by the emigration of approximately 1.3 million Russians since the invasion of Ukraine, including many younger and well-educated coupled with significant Russian casualties.

Demographic problems present a long-term structural challenge to Russian society and the Russian economy. The Russian leadership's attempts to increase birth rates are highly unlikely to arrest Russia's declining population in the short term.

By Naila Huseynova