 hero of the russian federation () is the highest honorary title of the russian federation. a person that has been bestowed this title also receives a gold star medal, an insignia of honor that identifies recipients. the title is awarded to persons for "service to the russian state and nation, usually connected with a heroic feat of valor". the title is bestowed by decree of the president of the russian federation. russian citizenship or being in the service of the russian state is not obligatory. the title was established in 1992, and was awarded more than 970 times since then, including more than 440 times posthumously. == history ==  the title "hero of russia" is a successor to hero of the soviet union (), which was established by resolution of the central executive committee of the soviet union of may 5, 1934. the corresponding gold star is derived from the soviet design, created by architect miron merzhanov and approved by decree of the presidium of the supreme soviet of august 1, 1939.{{cite web | authorlink = russian government | title = decree of the presidium of the supreme soviet of the ussr of august 1, 1939 | publisher = wikisource | date= 2011-09-28 |url = http://ru.wikisource.org/wiki/%d0%a3%d0%ba%d0%b0%d0%b7_%d0%9f%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b7%d0%b8%d0%b4%d0%b8%d1%83%d0%bc%d0%b0_%d0%92%d0%a1_%d0%a1%d0%a1
Awards_established_in_1992 Civil_awards_and_decorations_of_Russia Courage_awards Military_awards_and_decorations_of_Russia National_Heroes Russian_honorary_titles