Family under siege: Alarming signs of a nation’s decline

In 2023, Ukraine’s fertility rate stood at 0.7 children per woman – far below the replacement level of 2.15 needed for simple population renewal. In 2024, deaths in Ukraine nearly tripled the number of births. In the first half of 2024, there were 249,002 deaths and only 86,795 births. At this pace, by the end of the century there will be 10 million of us left – or even fewer.

Some may say: “If it weren’t for the full-scale Russian invasion, everything would be fine.” Regrettably, that is far from true. Even before 2022, Ukraine’s birth rate was so low that forecasts were only slightly less pessimistic. And now – even more so.

The issue is critical, yet it gets zero concrete attention, and no decisive measures are being taken to change the situation. Support for large families is at such a level that it’s embarrassing even to talk about it.

The payments offered to such families are something like: “Save on diapers and you’ll be happy!” I have heard there are plans to increase this support. If you say so. But our family has never once received assistance that would cover anything truly significant. Perhaps someone will be luckier.

In 2018–2019, I toured Ukraine with concerts under the slogan: “Preserve the Family – Preserve the Country.” I have long understood how vital this is for Ukraine’s survival. Should our soldiers be defending an empty country?

In some cities, there may be only a few families with five or more children, but there is never any attention to them from the local authorities. There is no promotion of large families – in the good sense of the word. So not only small villages are emptying out, but also medium-sized towns.

From my observations, in most cases, the decision to have more than two children is made by religious families. But such families are also becoming fewer for various reasons – including state-related ones – so even this last segment for potential growth in birth rates is under serious threat.

Our children were born solely out of love – not for payments, nor in the hope that someone would take them under their wing. I do not haunt government offices with an outstretched hand. We deal with our problems ourselves.

But then, what is the state for? To fatten the powerful and educate their children in elite schools? And for ordinary people – a couple of hryvnias for napkins?