The Russian Orthodox Church sends fragment of Dmitry Donskoy's right hand to Ukraine frontlines to boost soldier morale

The Russian Orthodox Church has dispatched a fragment of the right hand of Dmitry Donskoy to Russian troops in the occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine. The relic, which belonged to the 14th-century prince who defeated the Mongol Golden Horde at the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380, was sent to stand with the soldiers as a symbol of spiritual strength. The Moscow Patriarchate stated that the prince, referred to as the "holy commander," would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the army. The remains were first uncovered this summer during restoration work at the Cathedral of the Archangel inside the Kremlin. President Vladimir Putin personally inspected the remains during the unearthing ceremony. The relic is housed in a small ornate casket and will be shown to combat units along the front line. The church has used the prince's remains as a way to show support for the ongoing war, following other religious actions such as sending priests to the front and instituting mandatory prayers for victory.

Sources

• The Moscow Times
  Russian Orthodox Church Sends Bones of Medieval Warrior Prince to Ukraine Front to Boost Troop Morale
• The Guardian
  Orthodox church sends medieval prince’s remains to Russian troops in Ukraine
• The Independent
  Putin sends bones of medieval warrior to Ukraine frontline in desperate bid to boost morale
• New York Post
  Russian troops gifted dead prince’s hand in bizarre bid to boost morale as Kremlin suffers mass casualties

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Paywall and unreadable sources

• Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
  The Kremlin Tries A New Weapon For Its War: The Relics Of A 14th-Century Saint