Russian patriotism to address demographic crisis

Vladimir Putin urges compatriots to have larger families as population shrinks, writes Agence France-Presse

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Freshly married to a policeman, office manager Angelina Alexeyeva has been motivated by President Vladimir Putin’s plea for Russians to have more children, part of the Kremlin's ultra-patriotic drive as its Ukraine offensive drags on.

Russia's dwindling birth rate has been one of Mr Putin’s main worries during his 25-year rule.

And with Moscow having sent hundreds of thousands of young men to the front in Ukraine over the last three years, the demographic crisis has only worsened.

The Kremlin chief casts Russia's shrinking population as a matter of national survival and has rolled out a raft of pro-family policies and rhetoric to try to solve the challenge.

“It’s extinction,” Mr Putin warned in a government meeting in December, urging Russians to do their patriotic duty and have larger families.

The message resonated with Ms Alexeyeva, who plans to start a family with her new husband.