Russia’s leadership faces a mounting demographic crisis—and the ongoing war in Ukraine is only making matters worse. Faced with a shrinking pool of eligible men, authorities are considering increasingly extreme and sometimes bizarre measures to maintain military manpower.
Shockingly, some pro-war activists have proposed punishing single men who don’t attempt to find a partner or start a family. Such individuals could be added to a Ministry of Internal Affairs “blacklist”, and forced into labor or sent to the front lines.
Compulsory Conflict: Dating or Deployment
Russia conducts its military conscription twice a year—in spring and autumn—enrolling men aged 18 to 27. Despite this system filing hundreds of thousands of recruits annually, Moscow is struggling to fill its ranks. The Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service says the Kremlin is resorting to repressive and absurd tactics to recruit.
A group of activists has proposed penalizing men who, for three consecutive months, neither go on a date nor try to start a family. These men would be placed on the Ministry’s blacklist and potentially mobilized or assigned to forced labor. Ukraine’s intelligence calls this proposal a sign of the regime’s radicalized internal policy.
Migration Missteps and Workforce Woes
Russia continues to pursue a flawed immigration policy—relying heavily on labor from Central Asia while pushing migrants toward participation in the war. The intelligence service warns that xenophobia, lack of integration, and treating ethnic minorities as “cannon fodder” are deepening societal fractures.
Reports also highlight the troubling use of child labor in the military-industrial sector, especially in drone production—drones Russia deploys extensively in Ukraine.
Amid this crisis, Russia is turning to North Korea to fill labor gaps. North Korean workers in Russia have surged despite international sanctions. According to the Russian Ministry of Labor, 1.5 million jobs remain unfilled, a deficit expected to hit 2.4 million by 2030, particularly in construction, industry, and infrastructure sectors.
What Lies Ahead
Between population decline, war casualties, and emigration, Russia faces a growing shortage of able-bodied labor. With roughly one in three eligible men conscripted or otherwise unavailable, the Kremlin is now making drastic proposals to keep its military—and economy—afloat.
