An investigation by the Russian Orthodox Church has revealed that many private clinics violate regulations regarding abortions, in the context of a decline in birth rates.

The Russian Orthodox Church conducted an investigation into over a thousand private clinics, finding that many of them, from 76 regions, violate abortion legislation, including through the illegal promotion of services. The birth rate in Russia has dramatically decreased, with 195,400 registered births in the first two months of the year. The Ministry of Health has imposed new strict rules for medical abortions, including mandatory ultrasounds. Additionally, the Church has proposed legislative changes to completely ban abortions, noting that in 2024 the lowest birth rate since 1990 was recorded.