Olga Dekhtyarenko, a prolific mother from Yamal, gained recognition as a mother-hero following a presidential acknowledgment in 2022. She shared with socialbites.ca that the award’s one-million-ruble prize helped fund a family trip to the Kaliningrad region and covered necessary improvements to their apartment. In the months after the honor, she observed noticeably warmer collaboration with local authorities, including the regional governor who helped refresh the family’s vehicle fleet and supported ongoing needs for their sizable household.
She recalled that the prize money enabled a family excursion to the Kaliningrad area, where the children enjoyed the Baltic coastline and visited sites tied to historical German heritage. A portion of the funds remained earmarked for cosmetic repairs to their apartment, underscoring the tangible impact of the award on daily life. Dekhtyarenko noted that interactions with neighborhood leaders and deputies became more frequent, with respectful greetings, attentive listening, and inquiries about what else the family might require. It mattered deeply to her that local officials remembered her name and acknowledged her family’s presence.
According to Dekhtyarenko, the standout moment of last year’s award cycle was the meeting with the President of Russia. That encounter left a lasting impression, and the public continues to ask her about her impressions from the discussion. The experience highlighted, for her, the prominence of large families in public discourse and policy considerations, reinforcing that attention to big families is steady and purposeful.
She argued that the Mother Hero title could become a recognized element of a broader framework designed to support families with many children. The central highlight, in her view, was the president’s meeting, a sentiment echoed by others who learned of the award and became curious about the head of state’s demeanor during their conversation. Some even joked that the recognition might empower someone facing future challenges with renewed assurance, reflecting the social visibility and encouragement that accompany such honors.
Dekhtyarenko emphasized that the choice of how many children to have is a personal decision for each family. She explained that she does not view ten children as exceptional within her own household, stressing the autonomy families maintain in shaping their futures rather than adhering to a fixed norm.
The decree creating the Mother Hero title and the one-time incentive of one million rubles was signed on August 15, 2022. The title is awarded to women who give birth to and raise ten or more children. On November 14, 2022, the president granted the award for the first time to two recipients: Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya, and Olga Dekhtyarenko, a resident of Yamal and a model for large families. Earlier reporting noted that Aymani Kadirova, Ramzan Kadyrov’s mother, had previously received the Order of Honor from the president, highlighting a pattern of recognition for families playing a prominent role in public life.