Russia tightens border to curb conscript exodus amid demographic woes

The Russian government is developing a system to prevent potential conscripts from leaving the country, the British Ministry of Defence reported on Tuesday. Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, approximately 57,000 soldiers have been killed on the front, and many have fled the country. This places Russia at risk of a demographic crisis.

The latest intelligence update referenced reports from the independent Russian portal Meduza, cited on 11 July. It stated that the government in Moscow is implementing an "information exchange system" between the Ministry of Defence and the Federal Security Service (FSB). This system aims to pass on data of potential conscripts to the FSB Border Guard Service to prevent them from leaving the country. This system is expected to be fully operational before this year's autumn conscription.

As explained, Russia conducts two conscription periods a year, resulting in the drafting of over 250,000 people annually.

Hundreds of thousands of Russians left the country after the announcement of partial mobilisation in 2022, with a disproportionate concentration of young and well-educated individuals among them. This exodus caused a ripple effect on the labour market. The implementation of this system is likely aimed at preventing this situation on a smaller scale during the annual conscription cycle and in the event of the next wave of mobilisation, it was written.

"The Moscow Times", which the Kremlin recently labelled as an "undesirable organisation" due to "discrediting the decisions of the Russian Federation authorities both in foreign and domestic policy," noted that Russian women are feeling increasing pressure related to motherhood.

The Russian Federation will have to face a demographic crisis influenced, among other things, by the invasion of Ukraine. According to data from the independent media outlets Meduza and Mediazona, nearly 57,000 Russian soldiers have been killed on the front. This number was published based on obituaries and photos from burial sites. The media also remind us that some Russians fled the country, which also negatively impacts birth rates.

For this reason, 100,000 rubles, equivalent to about £850, will be given to female students up to the age of 25 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 regulations that will come into effect on 1 January 2025, the child must be born alive.

According to experts, bonuses for Karelian residents are "short-sighted policies" that are not sufficient. A one-time benefit will not improve the living conditions of young mothers. There is also talk of domestic violence, with between 2011 and 2019 seeing 10,000 women said to have died in Russia for this reason, claimed State Duma Deputy Sardana Avksentyeva.

At the same time, dictator Vladimir Putin - "The Moscow Times" recalls - stated 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 recognised as an "extremist ideology."