Farid Mukhametshin to the young heroes: "You have chosen the path of courage, compassion and kindness"

      Today in Kazan, at the "Vertolet" youth center, a solemn ceremony was held to award the laureates of the public prize "Heroes of Our Time." The award is annually initiated by the regional branch of the United Russia party and the Young Guard. Within this project, people who have performed heroic acts in everyday life are traditionally honored — those who did not ignore acute situations when someone's life was in danger. The awards were presented to the laureates by the Chairman of the State Council and Secretary of the regional branch of United Russia, Farid Mukhametshin.

      As Farid Mukhametshin noted, the award ceremony takes place on the eve of an important national day — the Day of Heroes of the Fatherland, which will be celebrated on December 9. "This is a special holiday because it is connected with the best examples of service to the Motherland, selflessness, courage and love for people," emphasized the head of the parliament. "There is always a place for a feat. In everyday life for young people — it is studying well, caring for others, helping those in need."

      The whole history of our state is connected with the names of Heroes, the head of the parliament stressed. Currently, 11 Heroes of Socialist Labor, 3 full cavaliers of the Order of Labor Glory, and the first Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation among regional heads — Mintimer Sharipovich Shaimiev — live in Tatarstan. "It is precisely through such heroic examples that our younger generation is brought up," the head of the parliament believes.

      Farid Mukhametshin expressed special words of gratitude and recognition to the young heroes, laureates and winners of the prize present in the hall. "Many stories are simply astonishing, especially in the 'Young Heroes' category," the Chairman of the State Council addressed the ceremony participants. "Some, risking their own lives, rush into a burning house to save people. Others have conducted volunteer activities for years, helping large families, children, the elderly, those who found themselves in a difficult situation. Some achieve great heights in studies, sports, culture, science — and by their example show that proper motivation, persistence and hard work always yield results. And, of course, our servicemen in the area of the special military operation perform their feat every day."

      The public prize "Heroes of Our Time," as Farid Mukhametshin recalled, has been held annually since 2013 under the auspices of the Young Guard, with the support of the State Council, United Russia, and the Republic's Ministry of Youth. Over this time more than one and a half thousand applications have been submitted and 258 lapel badges have been awarded, of which 192 went to adult residents of Tatarstan and 66 to young heroes.

      "In fact, there are no small or big heroes. There are — Real Heroes," emphasized the head of the republican parliament. "Today we honor the Real Heroes of this year — each of whom has performed an act worthy of respect and gratitude. You have different professions, different life paths, different dreams and goals. But you are united by the main thing — an open heart, a sense of responsibility and a sincere desire to help others. That is invaluable. Despite all the challenges of our time, you have chosen the path of courage, mercy and goodness and honorably carry out your civic and human duty."

      Farid Mukhametshin presented awards to the winners in the "Humanitarian Aid" category. The badge recipients included heads of districts of Tatarstan, as well as leaders of enterprises and educational institutions. These are caring residents of Tatarstan who organize humanitarian missions to provide assistance to our servicemen and to civilians in the new territories of Russia and to cities adopted by Tatarstan.

      At the event today, special honors were paid to a veteran, a resident of besieged Leningrad, 93-year-old Zinaida Bushueva. She was born on October 1, 1932 in the village of Solomennoe in the Petrozavodsk district of the Karelian ASSR. She survived the Siege of Leningrad. She worked as a switchboard operator at the Central Telegraph. She is currently actively involved in events held in her district, city and the republic. Zinaida Grigoryevna is the chair of the Novo-Savinovsky branch of the local Kazan city public organization "Veterans of the Great Patriotic War — Residents of the Besieged Hero City of Leningrad."

      "You are an example and a model to follow for how to live and work honestly in our native Tatarstan," Farid Mukhametshin told Zinaida Bushueva.

      This year the awards were presented in four categories: "Humanitarian Aid," "Young Hero," "Hero of Our Time," and "Volunteer of Tatarstan." Within the prize, veterans of the special military operation were also honored. The youngest is 7 years old, the oldest — 85.

      Seven-year-old Avrora Barinova from Zelenodolsk, despite her young age, helps and supports our fighters in the area of the special military operation together with her parents. In addition, Avrora recites poems beautifully, thus supporting fighters at the front.

      Eighty-five-year-old Saviya Shakiryanova is a "silver" volunteer from Kazan. She is the head of the headquarters for collecting humanitarian aid for the city of Lysychansk; in October 2025 she sent the 28th batch of humanitarian cargo and was awarded the honorary badge "Volunteer of Kazan."

      In April this year in Nizhnekamsk, eleven-year-old Karolina Smorodinova, during an apartment fire, selflessly tried to extinguish the flames while saving her younger brother and sister. The girl led the little ones out onto the balcony to protect her relatives from the smoke. Rescuers who arrived at the scene promptly brought the children down.

      Seventeen-year-old Kazan resident Ibragim Akhmadullin devised a method to protect cities from drone attacks. His project surprised professional military personnel and won the All-Russian contest of talented youth achievements "National Heritage of Russia." His device detects the thermal radiation of drone engines at distances of up to 50 km and operates in a network with other modules, creating a protective perimeter around a city.

      In July 2025, during a night flight from Kazan to Antalya, an intensive care physician from Naberezhnye Chelny, Marat Almakaev, saved a passenger on board the plane who suddenly became very ill — the medic immediately rushed to the passenger's aid and was able to stabilize his condition.

      Deputies of the State Council, representatives of relevant ministries and agencies, and public organizations took part in the award ceremony.

      "There is no such thing as a big or small feat," agrees the head of the parliament, State Council deputy Artur Abdulzhanov. "A feat is an all-encompassing concept. The world is very complicated; conflicts, fires, road accidents occur, and there will always be a place for a feat. Those who deliver humanitarian cargo from the rear to the front also convey the souls and hearts of those who packed it. That is very important for bringing Victory closer. It is also a feat — to deliver, return and go again."