Russian Orthodox Church sends medieval prince's relics to Ukraine front

The Russian Orthodox Church has dispatched bone fragments from the right hand of Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy to the front lines in Ukraine. The relic, which belonged to the 14th-century leader celebrated for defeating the Mongol Golden Horde, is being transported to the occupied Donetsk region to provide “spiritual strength” and boost the morale of Russian troops.

The remains were discovered during recent restoration work at the Cathedral of the Archangel in the Kremlin. President Vladimir Putin personally inspected the remains in August, describing the find as a “marvellous discovery.”

The Moscow Patriarchate stated that the “holy commander” will stand “invisibly shoulder-to-shoulder” with the soldiers. The relic is housed in an ornate casket under toughened glass and will be displayed to combat units along the front line. This move is seen as a significant demonstration of the Church's support for the Kremlin's military operations during the ongoing conflict.