Vladimir Putin is demanding that Russian women give birth to 'seven, eight or more' children to halt a population slump.
Warning it is impossible to solve Russia's 'catastrophic demographic problems' with more money, benefits and social payments, he urged citizens to have more children while speaking via video link at the World Russian People's Council on Tuesday.
Many blame his war in Ukraine for a massive decline in the birth rate - and rise in deaths, wounding his popularity in the leadup to the March 2024 elections. Russia's population fell by some 550,000 during the first year of his invasion, with many families reluctant to start a family amid economic uncertainty and conflict.
Putin is demanding a big change in attitudes from Russians with parents currently producing an average of just 1.42 children between them.
How much is he going to pay women to perform this act of sevice?