A report from Ukraine's intelligence agency reveals a concerning increase in the number of homeless children in Russia, attributed to socio-economic difficulties despite government claims of reduced poverty.
A recent report from Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service highlights a troubling rising trend in homelessness among children in Russia, with the number of homeless and neglected minors identified by police exceeding 57,000 in 2025. This marks a 2.1% increase from the previous year, breaking a five-year streak of decline in this statistic. The growing issue of child homelessness is being linked directly to persistent socio-economic challenges facing the nation, which contradicts official narratives from the Russian government asserting that poverty levels are decreasing.
Experts point out that while Russian authorities have touted successes in poverty reduction, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Many families face significant financial hardship; as of 2025, approximately 9.8 million individuals are reported to be living below the poverty line, constituting 6.7% of the population. The poverty threshold is based on data from late 2020, updated for inflation, indicating a dire situation for many Russians who struggle to meet basic needs, thus invoking a rise in the number of vulnerable children without adequate care or shelter.
This increase in vulnerable minors raises alarms about the welfare of children in Russia's current socio-economic environment. The lack of proper care or supervision for such a large number of children not only highlights the immediate humanitarian crisis but also poses long-term implications for the country's future, as these children may face severe psychological and social issues, further perpetuating the cycle of poverty and neglect. This raises questions regarding the effectiveness of policies enacted by the Russian government and the need for a reevaluation of their claims concerning economic improvement.
