On Tuesday, Russian MPs passed a bill in the Duma, the lower house of parliament, that bans 'propaganda' promoting the decision not to have children.

This legislation is part of Russia's efforts to combat low birth rates and an aging population, challenges exacerbated by its ongoing military actions in Ukraine.

The bill, passed unanimously, targets media, online content, advertising, and films that disseminate 'destructive content' which encourages people to consciously reject childbearing.

While personal choices or lifestyles won't be punished, promoting such ideas publicly could result in fines up to 400,000 rubles for individuals and five million rubles for businesses.

Foreigners found guilty could be deported.

Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin emphasized that without children, the country's future is in jeopardy, and the legislation aims to safeguard traditional family values.

Communist MP Nina Ostanina highlighted its role in protecting the youth from foreign ideologies.

This legislation, awaiting approval from the upper house and President Vladimir Putin, supplements existing bans on LGBTQ 'propaganda' and gender reassignment.

Additionally, a related bill bans foreigners from nations permitting gender reassignment from adopting Russian children.

Since 1993, over 100,000 Russian children have been adopted by foreigners, a practice increasingly restricted by Russian lawmakers.

Critics argue that these measures further isolate Russia from Western values, intensifying since the Ukraine conflict.