Russia tightens borders to stem conscript exodus amid demographic crisis
The Russian government is developing a system to prevent potential conscripts from leaving the country, the British Ministry of Defense reported on Tuesday. Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, around 57,000 soldiers have died on the frontline, and many have fled the country. This poses a demographic crisis threat to Russia.
16 July 2024 08:51
The latest intelligence update referenced a report from the independent Russian portal Meduza on July 11th. It stated that the government in Moscow is implementing an "information exchange system" between the Ministry of Defense and the Federal Security Service (FSB). This system aims to pass the data of potential conscripts to the FSB Border Service to prevent them from leaving the country. This system is expected to be fully operational before this year's autumn draft.
As explained, Russia conducts two drafts annually, resulting in over 250,000 individuals being conscripted into the army each year.
Hundreds of thousands of Russians left the country after the announcement of partial mobilization in 2022, and among them was a disproportionate concentration of young and well-educated individuals, causing a domino effect in the labour market. The implementation of this system is likely to prevent a similar situation on a smaller scale during the annual draft cycle and in case of the next wave of mobilization – it was written.
Russia's demographic problems
"The Moscow Times," which the Kremlin recently labelled as an "undesirable organization" due to "discrediting the decisions of the Russian Federation authorities both in foreign and domestic policy," notes that Russian women are feeling increasing pressure related to motherhood.
The Russian Federation will have to face a demographic crisis, influenced in part by the invasion of Ukraine. According to data from independent media outlets Meduza and Mediazona, nearly 57,000 Russian soldiers have died on the frontline. This number was published based on obituaries and photos from burial sites. Media also remind us that some Russians have fled the country, which does not favor birth rates either.
For this reason, 100,000 rubles, or approximately CAD 1,500, will be given to female students up to 25 years old who become mothers in the Republic of Karelia, which borders Finland, reports "The Moscow Times". Young mothers must be studying full-time at Karelian universities. According to the regulations that will come into force on January 1, 2025, the child must be born alive.
Experts believe that bonuses for Karelia's residents are "short-sighted policies" that are insufficient. A one-time benefit will not improve the living conditions of young mothers. There is also talk of domestic violence. From 2011 to 2019, 10,000 women are said to have died in Russia because of it, stated State Duma deputy Sardana Avksentyeva.
At the same time, dictator Vladimir Putin – as "The Moscow Times" recalls – recognized that a family with at least three children should be "the norm." The Kremlin also supports nationalist "family parades," which include "anti-Western sentiments." Additionally, at these parades, there are calls to ban "childless" rhetoric. The newspaper notes that the decision not to have children is increasingly being seen as an "extremist ideology."
