July 12, 2026

Whoa, Mama


Whoa, Mama
Cute, but just wait until they hit age 2. The Russian Life files

Russian state news outlet Izvestia reported that, on July 8, a Moscow woman gave birth to her sixteenth child.

The woman, unnamed in the article, birthed her ninth son, adding to her seven daughters. The birth was announced via social media by the Moscow Department of Health, which reported that the mother and newborn are healthy and received hearty congratulations from hospital staff.

While a big family is remarkable anywhere, in Russia, parents of large families are domestic heroes. In a country faced with shrinking demographics, authorities often encourage citizens to have as many children as possible (sometimes in goofy and somewhat crude ways).

In the Soviet Union, there was a civil medal awarded to mothers who had produced an exceptionally large litter of children, terming them "Mother-Heroines"; in 2022, Putin revived the honor as the "Order of Parental Glory." In addition to the social clout, awardees are also eligible for benefits to help pay for all those hungry mouths.

Especially when Russia's economy isn't doing too hot.

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