Part 3/9:
Historically, Russia has struggled with demographic issues, with a pronounced decline in birth rates already evident prior to the invasion of Ukraine. The birth rate currently sits at around 1.5 children per woman, significantly below the 2.1 needed for population replacement. Efforts by the government, such as financial incentives for childbirth, have proven largely ineffective due to the broader societal malaise wherein potential parents feel financially insecure or unprepared for child-rearing.