The President explained why Russia faced demographic problems in the 21st century.
Vladimir Putin suggested looking for reasons in events that developed long before today.
During a meeting of the State Council on Friday, December 20, the Russian leader recalled the forecast of Dmitry Mendeleev, RIA Novosti reports.
The famous scientist did not live to see the two world wars. He passed away in 1907.
Mendeleev once calculated that the population of Russia by the beginning of the 21st century would reach 600 million people.
Putin noted that the scientist probably gave the correct forecast.
But the First World War set in motion processes that had a strong impact on the domestic political situation in the country.
Then came the Civil War and the deadly Great Patriotic War.
The conflict between the Whites and the Reds claimed more Russian lives than the First World War, Putin pointed out.
During the Great Patriotic War, not only did many people die, but the birth rate also fell critically. Especially in 1943-1944, the president emphasized.
After the Great Patriotic War, the USSR began to develop and improve the demographic situation.
But the domestic political situation was again destabilized, the Soviet Union was destroyed and a demographic crisis was again provoked.
Putin noted that the country and its population had lived through a difficult century.
"Because the level of planning for the average citizen is reduced to zero, it is unclear to the average person what will happen tomorrow. What can we talk about and how can we plan a family?" Putin asked rhetorically.
Author: Dmitry Bobrov
