Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine are receiving an unusual visitor as they prepare for another winter of war. A piece of a medieval prince’s hand.
The Russian Orthodox Church has sent part of the remains of Dmitry Donskoy, a 14th-century prince and military leader, to Russian forces in occupied Ukraine.
And the choice of relic isn’t accidental.
The Church says the fragment comes from Donskoy’s right hand: the same hand with which he wielded his sword during the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380.
His remains are now being taken between Russian military units.
The Moscow Patriarchate said the “saint commander” would symbolically stand alongside today’s Russian soldiers and help strengthen them spiritually.
Donskoy isn’t the only figure from Russia’s past being brought into the present-day war.
Relics of Alexander Nevsky, another medieval prince celebrated for his military victories, have also previously been taken to troops.
The practice itself isn’t new. Sacred relics have a long history in Orthodox Christianity.
What has attracted attention is how closely the religious symbolism now follows the Kremlin’s message about the war.
President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly portrayed Russia as defending itself against the West, while Patriarch Kirill and other senior Orthodox figures have openly backed the war.
Religious scholars critical of the Moscow Patriarchate say figures such as Donskoy are useful because Russians remember them as defenders of their homeland.
The symbolism doesn’t work for everyone at the front.
One Russian serviceman interviewed by CNNcalled sending the relics a “very unconventional solution” to the problems soldiers face in a 21st-century war.
Others said faith, priests and religious objects provide genuine comfort as the fighting drags on.
2026-09-26 23:30:00
