The State Award System of the Russian Federation has varied and distinct origins. The first being pre-1917 orders of the Russian Empire re-established after the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, the second is from former Soviet orders that were slightly modified and retained post 1991, we also find many completely new awards resembling Imperial awards in basic design since the reintroduction of Russian heraldry.
Some of the Soviet awards, decorations, and orders were discontinued after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, while others are still issued by the Russian Federation as of 2021. Many of the awards were simply reworked in the Russian Federation, such as the transition of Hero of the Soviet Union to Hero of the Russian Federation, and Hero of Socialist Labour to Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation.
Originally set up following the dissolution of the Soviet Union by Decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation No. 2557-I of March 20, 1992, the statutes of all state awards was later ratified in Presidential Decree No. 442 of March 2, 1994. The entire state awards' system of the Russian Federation was amended on September 7, 2010 by presidential decree No. 1099, this all encompassing decree distanced modern Russian awards from their Soviet roots. Presidential Decree No. 1631 of December 16, 2011 amended and finalized the order of precedence of all modern Russian awards. Awards can be revoked by the State Duma if the recipient is not deemed fit to receive the award.
Honorary titles of the Russian Federation
AwardName (English/Russian)Presidential DecreeInception or Amendment DateAward CriteriaHero of the Russian FederationГерой Российской ФедерацииGeroy Rossiyskoy FederatsiiNo. 2553-l1992-03-20Awarded to those committing actions or deeds that involve conspicuous bravery while in the service of the state.Hero of Labour of the Russian FederationГерой Труда Российской ФедерацииGeroy Truda Rossiyskoy FederatsiiNo. 2942013-03-29Awarded for special labor services to the state and the people associated with the achievement of outstanding results in public, social and economic activities aimed at ensuring the welfare and prosperity of Russia.Mother HeroineМать-героиняMat'-geroinyaNo. 5582022-08-15Awarded to mothers who have given birth to ten or more children and raised them as part of a socially responsible family and with appropriate care for their health, education, and physical, spiritual, and moral development.Pilot-Cosmonaut of the Russian FederationЛетчик-космонавт Российской ФедерацииLetchik-kosmonavt Rossiyskoy FederatsiiNo. 2555-l1992-03-20Awarded to all cosmonauts who have flown for the Russian space programme.Honoured Military Pilot of the Russian FederationЗаслуженный военный летчик Российской ФедерацииZasluzhennyy voennyy letchik Rossiyskoy FederatsiiNo. 2555-l1992-03-20Awarded for special merits in the development of aviation technology, high performance in education and training of flight personnel and a multi-year accident-free flying period in military aviation.Honoured Military Navigator of the Russian FederationЗаслуженный военный штурман Российской ФедерацииZasluzhennyy voennyy shturman Rossiyskoy FederatsiiNo. 2555-l1992-03-20Awarded for learning special and complicated flight technique and/or long period of flying planes without incident.
Orders of the Russian Federation