However, Russia's birth rate remains dismal, prompting a politician to suggest that the country launch a "special demographic operation." Russia's birth rate was 8.3 per 1,000 people for the first half of this year — down from 10 per 1,000 people in 2019. The latest data from the US showed the country's birth rate was 11 per 1,000 people in 2022. Advertisement"Just like a special military operation — a special demographic operation," Ostanina added, referencing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Furthermore, over 300,000 Russian troops died or were injured in the Ukraine war by the end of 2023, US intelligence officials estimated.

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Persons: —, It's, Putin, Nina Ostanina, Ostanina, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, Business, RIA, HSE University, Moscow Times, TASS, An Atlantic Council Locations: Russia, Soviet, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, Japan