At the end of 2024, a law banning “childfree propaganda” came into force in Russia. Refusal to have children can no longer be “promoted” online, in the media, in films, or in advertising; the only exception was made for nuns after a request from the Russian Orthodox Church. Against that backdrop, several women from different cities told Novaya Gazeta Europe that since the law was adopted they have become more careful about discussing their choice and have faced more condemnation.
Natalya, 38, who lives in Moscow, says she and her husband decided not to have children after medical examinations and treatment for endometriosis, endometrioid cysts, and fibroids. According to her, close friends reacted calmly, but the couple prefer not to discuss the issue with relatives and with her husband’s friends. Since the ban, she says, the word “childfree” has come to be associated by many people with “Western propaganda” and hostility to the state.
After 2022, a woman in a pharmacy queue loudly said that people like me undermine the country’s defense capacity, Natalya recalls.
Natalya says she now chooses her wording carefully both in everyday life and when applying for jobs. In Russia, fines for “childfree propaganda” can reach 400,000 rubles for individuals, 800,000 for officials, and 5 million for legal entities. She fears not only public reactions but also possible further restrictions, including bans on abortion and contraception, even on drugs she takes for medical reasons.
Vera, 34, from St. Petersburg, who has type 1 diabetes, also describes growing pressure. She says her social circle has not turned against her, but doctors have been asking far more often over the past year about pregnancy plans; according to her, that question even appeared in a state endocrinology center questionnaire, which had not been the case before 2025. Kristina, 26, from Moscow, who is building a career in science, says that after the law was passed she deleted old comments and stopped discussing the issue on social media, although she did not notice direct aggression in her surroundings.
Veronika, 23, who lives with her partner in Voronezh, says speaking openly has become more dangerous, especially in an atmosphere of suspicion and wartime mobilization. In her view, any refusal to follow imposed ideas about family is easily seen as political disloyalty. All names in the article were changed for safety reasons.