Russian ideologist Aleksandr Dughin, known for his influence on President Vladimir Putin, has called for the depopulation of major cities in Russia. He argues that the country’s demographic decline and nuclear threats necessitate urgent action, according to reports.
Dughin emphasized that Russia cannot replace its population with migrants or robots. “We need to reverse the trend of population decline and replace it with a new growth trend. Urgent measures are absolutely necessary,” he stated in a comprehensive interview.
He proposed that the first step should be the immediate and massive relocation of cities, particularly large urban areas. Dughin cited sociological and demographic evidence showing that individuals who own homes and land tend to have significantly more children than those living in urban settings. “Continuing to build high-rise buildings and densifying populations in megalopolises will not solve this problem,” he explained.
Dughin Suggests Radical Solutions for Urban Areas
If a relocation program is implemented, Dughin claimed that there would be no more Moscow, Saint Petersburg, or Ekaterinburg, as people would move to rural areas for a quieter life. He also proposed innovative solutions to ensure that cities do not fall into complete disrepair.
He suggested transforming high-rise buildings into bitcoin mining farms where computers and robots could operate, while people would live on the land.
Dughin asserted that this unprecedented measure could not only address Russia’s demographic issues but also a wide range of other problems, including the threat of nuclear war.
Concerns Over Nuclear War Drive Relocation Argument
“With the war against the West being not just probable but almost inevitable, and the likelihood of it escalating into nuclear conflict being extremely high, megalopolises, which concentrate all life, industry, and the economy, become attractive targets for precise attacks,” he reasoned.
He argued that spreading the population would reduce the risk, remarking, “They will not bomb every village with nuclear weapons, surely not. Therefore, dismantle this construction mafia! We must decide on the relocation of cities. It’s a matter of political will, nothing more.”
Dughin pointed out that while living in a small country might lead to concerns about land availability, Russia’s vast territory makes relocating megalopolises a technical issue.
Earlier this year, he criticized Russian authorities for their perceived cowardice, suggesting they lack the courage to act decisively as the United States and Israel do. “From now on, only the law of the strong applies; those who act faster are right. Everything else becomes just additional justification,” he said following military actions by Israel and the U.S. against Iran on February 28.
