Artyom Zdunov: Mordovia is building the future through support for families and children

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Family-centred policy and comprehensive support for families are key priorities of the Republic of Mordovia. This was stated at the National Centre RUSSIA by the Head of the Republic of Mordovia, Artyom Zdunov, during the presentation of the development strategy "Region-2030. Republic of Mordovia" as part of the themed week of the region at the National Centre RUSSIA.

"When we talk about the family, it is important to understand that this is not only the responsibility of the government — it rests with each of us, at our own level. A school principal in educational work, a kindergarten head in caring for the youngest children, a company director in supporting employees. If everyone is engaged in the policy of population growth in their own area, the results will not take long to appear — they will become visible in the very near future," the head of the region said.

He explained that the majority of projects and programmes are aimed at supporting families with children and preserving the population. Particular attention is given to large families, including the improvement of public spaces, the development of infrastructure in towns and villages, and the implementation of a corporate demographic standard. The region has launched a programme providing rental housing with the right to purchase. In the capital city of Saransk, a family taxi service has been introduced with a fixed fare and high-capacity vehicles. Children from large families and their parents can visit museums and sports facilities free of charge.

In particular, Artyom Zdunov noted that Mordovia is establishing a year-round youth educational centre focused on the theme of "Family". It will train specialists in family policy for the whole of Russia. In 2026, more than four thousand people will be trained at the Centre.

"Every year, participants from all corners of the country will come to the youth educational centre. We will train psychologists, doctors, specialists working with families and young people — those who represent the ideological front and who will go on to pass on our values: healthy nutrition, reproductive health and psychology," he explained.

Healthcare plays a special role in Mordovia’s family-centred policy. According to the Deputy Minister of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Yevgeniya Kotova, the region is implementing measures to support birth rates and promote responsible fatherhood. These include health check-ups to assess reproductive health among adolescents and adults, and the modernisation of women’s health clinics, which are intended to become spaces for joint family planning. She emphasised that men’s involvement in health and child-rearing issues is particularly important, and that maintaining a healthy lifestyle and family values directly affects life expectancy and social well-being.

"If we say that we must live longer and that there should be more of us, we need to start with a simple health check. A regional branch of the Centre for Healthy Longevity will be established in the region. After all, what is life? It is our health, the health of the brain. Cultural activity is important in this regard: new neural connections are formed when we go to the theatre and experience positive emotions. All of this influences our nutrition, how we take care of our health, our activity levels and our working lives. This comprehensive approach will be addressed at the Centre," the head of the Republic of Mordovia added.

Artyom Zdunov emphasised that a large number of initiatives related to family policy are being implemented in Mordovia. As an example, the head of the region cited the All-Russian forum "Healthy Longevity", which will be held in Saransk in 2026.

"From 23 to 24 April, we will host the federal forum 'Healthy Longevity'. Why did we choose Saransk? Because this is something we truly want to focus on. Without healthy longevity, there will be neither high life expectancy nor high birth rates. Leading specialists from the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia across all fields will come to the forum: reproductive health, child nutrition. And the work will not end after the forum — the Centre will continue operating for our people, so that everyone can explore their health and understand their individual trajectory. If someone wants to live to be 100, that matters. Our President has spoken about living and working in harmony, about healthy longevity," Artyom Zdunov shared.

The Director General of the ANO "Institute of Scientific and Public Expertise" and Chair of the Commission on Demography, Protection of the Family, Children and Traditional Family Values of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, Sergei Rybalchenko, noted that housing is a key factor in demographic policy when it comes to increasing the population. He stressed that Mordovia has introduced a unique set of measures, including partial write-offs of mortgage loans upon the birth of a child and subsidies for individual housing construction. According to him, these measures are effective and are already delivering tangible results.

"International research shows that the broader the range of opportunities available to families to resolve their housing issues, the higher the birth rate. We can see this in the figures: at the end of last year, the Republic of Mordovia recorded growth in the total fertility rate and ranked fifth in terms of dynamics. This is especially important given that the national total fertility rate declined slightly. This trend allows us to look to the future with confidence. After all, what is demography? Demography is the management of expectations. If people expect improvements, see stability and opportunities to address their problems, the realisation of their reproductive intentions continues," Sergei Rybalchenko explained.

During the presentation of the development strategy "Region-2030. Republic of Mordovia" together with Artyom Zdunov, the key areas of the region’s economy were reviewed, including growth in gross regional product, industrial output and the development of the investment climate. Particular attention was paid to the agro-industrial sector and the production of environmentally friendly goods. In addition, he presented a vision of Mordovia by 2030 as a region where people can confidently live, work and start families, with support programmes for participants in the special military operation, employment opportunities and the preservation of cultural heritage.

The Republic of Mordovia Days are taking place at the National Centre RUSSIA from 16 to 22 February. All events within the programme can be attended free of charge. Some require prior registration on the website russia.ru. The current schedule of events is available in the "Events" section.