Vladimir Putin wants Russians to have sex during work breaks to boost population

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin stands confidently in front of the national flag, symbolizing leadership and national pride.

In an unusual strategy to address Russia’s dwindling birth rate, Russian leader Vladimir Putin are recommending that people use their work breaks for intimate activities. This measure aims to counteract the nation’s declining population, worsened by the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Key Points:

Russia’s fertility rate is currently 1.5 children per woman, falling short of the 2.1 needed for population stability.
The Ukraine war has accelerated population decline, with over a million young Russians leaving the country.
Russian Health Minister Dr. Yevgeny Shestopalov advocates for using lunch and coffee breaks for procreation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly suggested that citizens take advantage of their lunch and coffee breaks to address the country’s low birth rate. According to Metro, this directive reflects Russia’s current fertility rate of about 1.5 children per woman, well below the 2.1 replacement rate necessary for population stability.

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The ongoing conflict with Ukraine has further strained the population, leading to the departure of over a million Russians, predominantly young adults. In light of this, Health Minister Dr. Yevgeny Shestopalov has stressed that work should not impede procreation, urging Russians to use their breaks for family expansion.

“Being busy at work is not an excuse,” Shestopalov said. “Engage in procreation during your breaks, as life passes quickly.”

Addressing concerns about the feasibility of this advice for those with long work hours, Shestopalov emphasized the importance of using break times effectively. “Make babies during break times,” he reiterated.

In addition to these measures, the Kremlin has proposed several initiatives to boost the birth rate. In Moscow, women aged 18 to 40 are encouraged to undergo free fertility screenings to assess their reproductive health. Meanwhile, the Chelyabinsk region offers a financial incentive of 102,000 rubles (approximately Rs 9.4 lakh) to women under 24 upon the birth of their first child.

Abortion access is being increasingly restricted, with public figures and religious leaders promoting childbirth as a primary duty for women. Divorce fees have also been raised to discourage separation.

Russia has reported its lowest birth rate in 25 years for the first half of 2024. Official data reveals that births fell below 100,000 in June for the first time, marking a significant decline. Between January and June 2024, 599,600 children were born, a drop of 16,000 compared to the same period in 2023.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the situation as “catastrophic” for the nation’s future, noting that the birth rate has plummeted to 1.4, comparable to that of some European countries and Japan.