War Babies

By Shlomo Maital

     Ukraine’s population collapsed to only 29 million in 2023,  according to Ukraine Business News, with just 187,000 births recorded (including in Russian-occupied territories).  This is the lowest annual figure in recorded history over the last 300 years, exacerbating an already dire population catastrophe caused  by economic turmoil and war.  Russia’s population is 144 million (and declining); it is not a fair fight.

      The Russian invasion exacerbated an existing trend in Ukraine,  a sharply declining total fertility rate, well below replacement. 

        This is understandable.  With Ukaine under air and land assault, it’s not a great time to have babies.  Miitary-age husbands are at the front.

         Yet some do.  An NPR report from Ukraine recounts not only how some Ukrainian couples are indeed choosing to have children – they are also undergoing rigorous, difficult IVF in vitro fertilization procedures to do so.

           I salute them.  Perhaps because I too am kind of a war baby. I was born in 1942 – the darkest year of World War II, when things were not going well for the Allies and their battle against Nazi Germany and Japan.  There were a whole lot of advantages to my being born then – very small cohorts meant small classes all through Grades 1-12, and scholarships for college and grad school. 

            To the Ukrainian babies born in the past two years:  Guys, I know it’s been tough.  But when peace comes, as it will, your tiny cohort will enjoy a lot of advantages – and the luster of being a courageous war baby, coming into the world in dark times and bringing the light and hope that only babies can bring.