February 01, 2026

Don't Worry, the City's Got It


Don't Worry, the City's Got It
City of the White Nights, lending a hand with raising kids. Paul Richardson (The Spine of Russia Project)

A new part of St. Petersburg's social code specifies that students who give birth to a child will be paid R200,000 (about $2,500) from city coffers.

The change was noted in Russian state media outlet Izvestia, citing the regulation provided by the city government.

The payment will be released to the student's family once one or more children are born. The city will also pay R100,000 (about $1,200) to students who are pregnant, no matter if they are studying full-time or part-time. And the benefits don't end there: Large families are eligible for city-sponsored tuition reimbursement at vocational or higher education institutions up to 50%.

The updates come as Russia navigates a demographic crisis. With the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, thousands of Russians fled the country. This was on top of low birthrates and a strict immigration policy, which were contributing to long-term population decline.

In response, the Russian state has been encouraging its people to have children, though some measures have been more effective than others.

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