Russia’s Declining Population Crisis: Young People’s Decision to Leave the Country

Russia’s population is rapidly decreasing due to various factors, including the decision of many young people to leave the country and not return. One of the primary reasons behind this exodus is the desire to raise their children in a safer and more peaceful environment.

Escaping the War-Torn Country

Anya, a young mother, fled to Portugal to escape the war and propaganda that she believes is detrimental to her children’s upbringing. “Violence and war propaganda are instilled in them. ‘Dying is precious, go to the battlefield and die.’ I don’t want my children to grow up in that kind of environment.”

Anya’s decision to leave Russia was motivated by her desire to protect her children from the regime’s influence. “Anything is possible in Russia today. The regime will do anything without listening to the voices of its citizens in the long term.”

A Low Birth Rate and a Brain Drain

Russia’s birth rate has fallen to a catastrophic low, with only 599,600 babies born in the first half of this year. This decline is exacerbated by the large number of people raising children who have left Russia with no intention of returning.

Polina, a young woman who fled to Argentina while pregnant, is one such example. She was drawn to Argentina because the country offers citizenship to children born there, providing a secure future for her child. “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.'”

The Human Cost of War

The war in Ukraine has also taken a devastating toll on Russia’s population, with an estimated 70,000 Russian soldiers killed in battle. This number is believed to be even higher, and the true extent of the losses may never be known.

A source close to the Russian presidential office has warned that if the war continues, the country’s power will only decline further. This decline is already being felt, with a significant brain drain and a dwindling population.