Patriarch Kirill of Moscow asserts that Russia “is laying the foundations for a new civilisation, where science, technology, new technologies, high standards of living, education, art and culture are combined with sincere and profound faith,” but the Russian Academy of National Economy (Rosstat) warns of a significant, nationwide decline in both population and Christianity. Population decline over the last fifteen years amounts to 4.4 million fewer citizens, and the rate of this decline is such that Rosstat decided to keep the data secret throughout 2025 to avoid causing alarm. And such increases as have been seen have come mostly from Muslim communities.