Russian women who bear and raise 10 children are awarded the Mother Heroine medal.
The Russian government announced it would revive the Soviet-era honorific title “Mother Hero” for women with 10 or more children as it faces a population decline that has accelerated since its invasion of Ukraine.
According to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin this week, the title will be awarded to those who have “born and raised” 10 Russian citizens, with a lump sum of 1 million Russian rubles ($16,645) received, when the 10th child turns one year old.
However, there are some additional qualifications.
The children must have received “the appropriate level of care for health, education, physical, intellectual and moral development” for which the assessment process is not specified.
Meanwhile, all 10 children must be alive unless they died while serving in the military, civil service, or community service, or in a terrorist attack.
The title “Mother Heroine” was introduced in 1944 and was awarded until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Recipients will receive a medal of a five-pointed star, the decree said.
They have the same rank as those with the titles Hero of the Russian Federation, usually awarded for bravery; and “Hero of Labour”, awarded for services to the state.
demographic challenge
Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine since February 24 may have accelerated these trends.
Russia’s population fell by a record 86,000 people a month from January to May, the Moscow Times reports, citing official figures. The previous record was a drop of 57,000 people per month in 2002.
Though Russia has suffered heavy casualties since its invasion, data from the state statistics agency Rosstat showed a year-on-year decline in the number of deaths, with the disparity being fueled instead by migration and a drop in births.
Rosstat said the total population is now 145.1 million.