Russia’s lower house of parliament has unanimously voted to ban propaganda promoting a child-free lifestyle, aiming to reverse a declining birth rate that recently hit a quarter-century low. With the death toll rising amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has pushed for traditional family values, suggesting families should have at least three children. The new law imposes hefty fines for promoting child-free ideals, paralleling existing restrictions on ‘non-traditional lifestyles.’ Despite government efforts, many citizens cite economic instability as a primary reason for their reluctance to have children.