Putin Blamed for Russia's Population Crisis

Vladimir Putin has been criticized for contributing to a demographic crisis in Russia, with Professor Igor Gundarov attributing a rising 'epidemic' of erectile dysfunction and infertility to the ongoing Ukraine war. Gundarov, chief scientific officer at the Research Institute of Public Health, claimed that the war has led to a significant increase in mortality among young men and blamed societal pressures and misinformation for falling birth rates. He refuted claims that women are delaying childbirth for careers, stating that conditions of fear and hopelessness are preventing couples from wanting children. The birth rate in Russia has declined by approximately 2.5% over the last two years, with Gundarov suggesting that the government is hiding the true casualty figures from the war. His remarks, made at a city council meeting, highlight the increasingly rare public dissent against Putin's policies, which could carry severe repercussions for him. The professor's alarming statements underscore the urgent demographic challenges Russia faces amidst the ongoing conflict.