Daughters of growth: large families filled the Kremlin with coloring books and puzzles

Russia will support those who move to our country in order to preserve traditional values — today they are actually trying to abolish them in a number of countries. This was stated by Vladimir Putin on June 1 at the presentation of the orders of "Mother Heroine" and "Parental Glory". The Russian authorities are striving to create all conditions for the country to have as many large families as possible. And now their number is increasing, the president noted. On International Children's Day, the Russian leader presented state awards to representatives of nine such families. For example, one of them left France and has been living happily in Moscow for more than 10 years.

Who did Vladimir Putin receive in the Kremlin

On June 1, infrequent guests gathered in the Kremlin on the sidelines: dozens of boys and girls, along with their parents. On International Children's Day, the head of state awarded the orders of "Mother Heroine" and "Parental Glory" to nine large families. This is the first such meeting of the president in person after the coronavirus pandemic. While waiting for the ceremony, the children settled down in the halls of the Kremlin with coloring books, construction kits, cartoons and puzzles, vividly discussing with each other what awaits them. However, it wasn't just the guys who were worried.

— To be honest, you get a little lost when you find yourself in such an audience. The audience is, frankly, unusual for me," Vladimir Putin admitted at the award ceremony.

But the authorities are accustomed to consistent work in all areas that are important and significant for Russian families.: This includes high-quality, modern education and healthcare, a comfortable environment for living in cities and towns, as well as opportunities for development and self-realization, the president promised. The state strives to create all conditions for large families to be as numerous as possible, in particular, by building national projects around their interests. Businesses and large employers also form their own solutions and support programs, the president added.

— And it is encouraging that the number of such families as yours is growing. As well as those young people who would like to have two, three, four or more children in their own future families. And I am sure that your example — and this, I repeat, is true human, parental happiness — will become truly inspiring for many," the president said.

The awards were given to families from Moscow, Pskov, Rostov, Tyumen, Novosibirsk, Kherson regions, Mordovia, Dagestan and North Ossetia. The Order of Parental Glory was established back in 2008. It is awarded to parents who have raised seven or more children.

The family of the rector of the church of the Don Icon of the Mother of God in Volgodonsk, Nikolai and Elena Solovyov, who are raising 10 children, as well as the family of Yuri and Olga Vlasov, Mikhail and Evgenia Deryagin, received state awards from the president. They each have eight representatives of the younger generation.

Who received the award from the president's hands

Among those awarded the Order of the Mother Heroine is Isabelle Beatrice Margaret Laroche-Sorlin, who is raising 10 children. Her family moved from France in 2015 and now lives in Moscow. And in 2024, they received Russian citizenship by decree of Vladimir Putin. The head of the family, Fabrice Sorlin, handed over the statue of Our Lady of Fatima to the Russian leader. Speaking first in French, he switched to Russian and assured that Russia would win in these times of crisis.

— We see that the role that Russia plays in the world in times of crises and difficulties confirms the words of the Mother of God. Millions of Catholics around the world unite in prayer with the Russian Federation," he said.

Citing the Sorlin family as an example, the head of state stressed that nothing is more important than genuine family values. The President recalled that in a number of countries they are actually trying to cancel them.

—And we will provide support to those who, faced with such pressure, come to live, work, and raise children in Russia,— he stressed. — Welcome.

The title "Mother Heroine" is awarded to mothers who have given birth to and raised 10 or more children. It was established not so long ago — in 2022. The order was also awarded to Natalia Avtayeva, the mother of ten children, Tatiana Kolotun, the mother of 13 children, and Burliyat Medzhidova, the mother of 12 children. Sima Karkusova, the mother of 15 children, also received the Order of the "Mother Heroine" from the hands of the president.

— It's easier every time, because the older ones then help to look after the younger ones. It's an honor, of course, but I don't consider myself a heroine. Because I am their mother, I did it with love, not for the order," she said.

Another large family that received the award today is Alexandra and Mikhail Palyutin: they are raising 13 children. According to the couple, in such a large family, when you return home, all the hardships immediately disappear, and life seems to play with completely different colors. But at the same time, it's a job that not everyone can do.

— Minute-by-minute dedication. So you're constantly living for someone. You can forget about yourself. This is probably the heroism of our time," said Alexandra's mother with many children.

The father of the family was more practical.

— A big family is good: whether it's working in the country, in the garden, or going mushroom picking. Are you going with one basket? Or 10 at once? Once and for the whole family, they scored in one or two exits at once. You come home tired, but you need to talk to everyone and give advice," Mikhail Palyutin told Izvestia.

How Russians are restoring parental rights in 2025

On the same day, Vladimir Putin met with Children's Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova and Chairman of the Board of the Circle of Goodness Foundation Archpriest Alexander Tkachenko. Each of them is responsible for helping children — Lvova-Belova protects the rights of minors, and Tkachenko helps young patients fight diseases. The Circle of Goodness Foundation, which was established in 2021 to support children with severe life-threatening and chronic diseases, including orphan diseases. Since the beginning of the work, I have been able to help more than 30 thousand children.

— Daria, she is 18 years old, she entered the Russian Biotechnology University last year, she is studying to become a doctor, she wants to be a geneticist. Despite the fact that she had a serious illness. <...> She writes: "With my illness, I was forced to use a wheelchair, and now I walk normally, walking 20 thousand steps a day is not a problem at all. For me, this is a significant breakthrough, the result of proper therapy," Alexander Tkachenko read the letter to Vladimir Putin.

The lists of purchased medicines also continue to expand. Last year, the foundation's expert council authorized the purchase of 13 more drugs for the treatment of 17 diseases for which previously there was no therapy.

Successful work in the field of human rights protection continues. A record number of Russians regained their parental rights in 2025, bringing more than 2.8 thousand children back home. In addition, the number of people living in orphanages and shelters decreased by 18.3% — in less than two years it fell to 49 thousand.

The Head of State thanked both of them for their work and extended Maria Lvova-Belova's term of office as Children's Ombudsman.