Next, to the second part of our series looking at changing populations. Russia shrank by more than 130,000 people last year. Increasingly, it is looking toward migrants to help support its economy, with most coming from Asia. Dan Ashby looks at how the face of Russia is changing.

Nursing homes in Russia need not always be a quiet affair. In Moscow, young volunteers try to bring cheer to those who are facing life's harder times. That's because they know this is where Russia needs them most. The country has an ageing population, with fewer births, and millions in need of social care.

TATIANA ALEXEYEVNA VOLUNTEER, OLD AGE FOR JOY "Older people need much more care because they have less energy, and children can't always look after them. Like if a young woman cares for her mother, she cannot go to work. And pensions should be higher, it has to be a pension of dignity. They need food, special medicine and treatment. Without all of this, problems spring up."

But a high proportion of older people is costly. Russia's population could shrink by 15 million people by 2050 according to estimates - meaning fewer in employment and in turn lower tax receipts.

DAN ASHBY MOSCOW "The world is going through an unprecedented movement of people: millions travelling in all directions as we become more connected to each other. In Europe, mass arrival of immigrants has been met with either concern or even outrage. But in Russia many may well be welcome."

Migrants from former Soviet countries can get permits or come anyway, and millions are being used for to help keep services running. But whether illegal or legal - many live on the breadline.

SVETLANA GANNUSHKINA MIGRANT CAMPAIGNER, CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE "Several economic spheres are nearly completely occupied by migrants. If they weren't here there would be economic collapse. You know, in Moscow there is unbelievable snow. You sometimes see in pictures how houses are heaped in it. That's what would happen if we didn't have them. And yet protection of migrants is not something the Government is interested in."

Campaigners say Russia needs to do more to help and integrate migrants. That is not always popular with Russians themselves. Back at the nursing home, the visitors have gone down well.

LARISSA VASILYEVNA RESIDENT "Some of the elderly residents here who don't have relatives actually call the volunteers their daughters! It makes it a warm place when they all come in."

But it will take more than the generosity of volunteers, to support Russia's changing face in the years ahead. Dan Ashby, CGTN, Moscow.