Embracing Uncertainty: Russian Initiatives Encourage Soldiers Wives to Carry On Despite Loss

«Greetings, I’m Eva! Today marks my birthday! My dad is a hero, but sadly, I will never have the chance to meet him,» a message shared on behalf of a newborn baby reveals. This was made public by the To Be a Mom initiative in the Samara region of Russia.

Eva’s father lost his life in the conflict with Ukraine.

To Be a Mom is part of an increasing number of programs in Russia promoting the idea that pregnant wives of soldiers should see their pregnancies through to delivery, despite the possibility that the fathers may never return from the battlefield.

These initiatives are arising as Russian authorities impose stricter limitations on abortion and encourage women to have more children. This effort aligns with a broader strategy to tackle the country’s demographic issues and promote the Kremlin’s vision of “traditional family values.”

In its fourth year of the full-scale conflict with Ukraine, the Russian government has intensified its support for military families. For instance, the Presidential Grants Foundation allocated around 16 million rubles ($195,000) in 2025 towards projects assisting soldiers’ wives, according to calculations by The Moscow Times.

Earlier this year, the To Be a Mom initiative received almost 3 million rubles ($38,000) from the Presidential Grants Foundation to support its Za lyubov (“For Love”) program aimed at helping pregnant soldiers’ wives.

At the launch of the Za lyubov program, widows and wives of soldiers spoke to expecting mothers.

Oksana recalled learning about her husband’s disappearance while she was already in the maternity ward.

Olga shared her experience of giving birth to her daughter shortly after her husband’s funeral.

«This initiative is designed to cover up the profound impacts of war on family dynamics and women’s roles,» said gender researcher Sasha Talaver in an interview with The Moscow Times.

«In the aftermath of war, women’s responsibilities expand to include addressing their husband’s PTSD and building a relationship with their child,» Talaver explained.

The program is spearheaded by Yekaterina Kolotovkina, the wife of a Samara general, who was recognized with the «Putin’s Team» medal for her pro-war activism during the first year of the invasion. She aims to take this initiative nationwide.

“The best legacy of our heroes is their children. It is our sacred duty to ensure that this legacy is honored,” Kolotovkina stated in June.

The website for the Za lyubov project showcases an AI-created image of a woman from Samara in a military jacket, holding an infant.

Among its goals is to address demographic challenges, likely alluding to both local and nationwide issues. Earlier in the year, the death rate in the Samara region was reported to be double that of the birth rate.

To participate in the program, soldiers’ wives must provide verification of their husbands’ military service and specify their pregnancy stage. The initiative offers psychological support, motherhood workshops, and celebrations marking maternity ward discharges, complete with photo opportunities.

“Eight babies have been born through our program in just two months. Out of these, three will never meet their fathers,” Kolotovkina shared in an interview. She has previously supported the creation of a nationwide sperm bank for those participating in the war against Ukraine.

In some instances, the program includes discussions led by priests and psychologists about the significance of motherhood and childbirth while their husbands are away at war.

In the Far North, the Salekhard Diocese, along with a local women’s health clinic in Noyabrsk, introduced a similar program called Motherhood from the Moment of Conception.

This project includes encouraging pregnant women to compose letters to their husbands at the front from the perspective of their unborn children.

Organizers say this «letter to dad» initiative aims to establish a connection between the unborn child and their absent father, creating a sense of the father’s presence from afar.

Psychologist Nadezhda Fesenko, who oversees the Noyabrsk project, notes many pregnant women are undergoing a “re-evaluation of values” as they navigate the consequences of the invasion’s fourth year.

«Women confide in me their considerations for having an abortion: ‘I fear being left alone,’ or ‘My husband might go to war.’ Now, however, families are starting to appreciate that each life holds value,” Fesenko remarked.

“Paradoxically, the special military operation has significantly contributed to reducing abortion rates. In Russia, this has always been a matter of mindset: What is the purpose? Our men and boys are there to protect life,” she added, reflecting on the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Nevertheless, anxiety over potential loss remains a central issue for military wives who express their fears on online platforms.

“I’m overwhelmed with fear. I worry for him, for my pregnancy, and that the baby will come too soon. I’m exhausted,” a woman named Kristina shared on a pregnancy forum.

On the same forum, Katerina from Rybinsk reached out to others, stating, “My husband died in the SVO [special military operation], and I’m expecting a child. I longed for a second baby, and so did he. Now… How can I manage this, where can I find my strength?”

Pro-war advocates also utilize the Russian Orthodox faith to help alleviate women’s anxieties. As part of the Motherhood from the Moment of Conception program, they promise personal blessings for childbirth.

“It’s less daunting when we are united! Faith provides strength,» reads the project’s promotional materials.

Upon their discharge from the maternity ward, a local deacon presents mothers with an icon, with psychologist Fesenko accompanying the family.

“Pregnancy signifies a transformative experience. A woman is reborn. Experiencing fear is a natural state; it simply needs to be understood,” Fesenko explained.

Fesenko, who believes abortion is equivalent to murder and that motherhood is inherently a woman’s calling, conducts anti-abortion campaigns aimed at fostering trust through informal gatherings.

According to Talaver, the state often employs restrictive measures regarding women’s reproductive rights.

“Concurrently, Russia offers benefits and support to families, including military families, which also serves as a method of control,” Talaver noted.