Vladimir Putin revives award for mothers of ten in bid to boost Russia’s population 

Vladimir Putin has revived a Soviet-era award aimed at halting Russia’s plunging birth rates amid the Ukraine war.

The despot has brought back the honorary title ‘Mother Heroine’, established under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and scrapped after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Women who bear and raise ten or more children will be awarded with the honour and a one-time £13,000 cash payment as soon as their tenth child turns one year old.

The money will only be disbursed if all of their nine other children are still alive, although there are exceptions for those who died in armed conflict or a terrorist act.

They will also receive gold medals decorated with the Russian flag.

Russia’s population has been in near-constant decline for decades, falling to 145.1 million after a decline of around 400,000 people in early 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is bringing back the honorary title ‘Mother Heroine’ which will reward women who have ten or more children. Mother’s will receive the title and be given a one-off payment of £13,000