Crimeans told how fathers can take parental leave

Fathers in Russia have the right to go on leave to care for a child until he reaches three years old - and at any time and in parts. Lawyer, Chairman of the Moscow Bar Association Shvyreva and Partners Nadezhda Shvyreva explained that parents themselves decide who will stay with the baby, and the father does not need to prove that the mother can not care for the child.

The key condition is that if the mother is already taking parental leave, the father cannot take it at the same time. However, the spouses have the right to change – for example, take turns to go to work or take vacations in parts. Shvyreva stressed that the father does not need to confirm the inability of the mother to care for the child: she can work, study or be at home.

A special case is the birth of twins, triplets or weather. In such a situation, both parents may be on parental leave at the same time, and the employer may not refuse them. The leave is issued at the request of the employee, the workplace is retained for him.

Earlier, State Duma deputy Nikita Chaplin reminded that citizens on maternity leave have the right to a tax deduction for a child. According to him, the state can also compensate for the cost of purchasing housing.

The topic of paternity leave to care for a child is actively discussed in the Crimea. According to the Office of the Social Fund of Russia for the Republic of Crimea, in October 2026, more than 1,200 men were on leave to care for a child up to one and a half years — in May of the same year there were 1,066.

They are paid a monthly allowance of 40% of average earnings. The trend is noticeable on a national scale: if in 2021-2023 the total number of popes in the decree was about 30 thousand, then by 2025 the figure increased to 226 thousand.

From January 1, 2026, Russia abolished restrictions on the inclusion of maternity leave in the insurance period: now the periods of care for each child up to one and a half years are counted in full, without limiting the total duration.

In February 2026, the Simferopol Clinical Maternity Hospital No. 2 launched a pilot project "School of Responsible Paternity" - the first lesson was attended by seven future fathers who learned to hold the child in their arms, bathe him and help with colic.

In April 2026, Crimea approved a regional standard for supporting families with children, providing, among other things, additional days of leave at the birth of a child.