In a move that has sparked global outrage, Russian authorities are now offering schoolgirls a one-off payment of £950 ($1,200) to have children, as the country faces a dire population decline following its war in Ukraine. The controversial policy, first introduced in the Oryol region, targets girls in full-time education, including those as young as 15, and is part of a broader state-backed initiative to combat Russia's falling birth rate and staggering wartime losses.
According to a report by the New York Post, Russia has lost an estimated 250,000 soldiers since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with total casualties reportedly nearing 900,000. The Kremlin, under President Vladimir Putin, has since doubled down on efforts to incentivise childbirth, urging Russian families to have at least three children.
