Russian Church Sends Prince’s Relic to Ukraine Front

The Russian Orthodox Church has sent a reliquary containing a fragment attributed to the right hand of 14th-century Prince Dmitry Donskoy to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, presenting it as a source of spiritual strength and protection. The relic was displayed during a prayer service at the Saur-Mohyla memorial complex in occupied Donetsk before being taken closer to the front. Donskoy, canonized by the church in 1988, is revered by Russian nationalists for leading the 1380 victory over the Mongol Golden Horde. Russian officials and clergy have promoted the ritual as a means of strengthening troops and civilians, while Ukrainian officials and analysts describe the campaign as Kremlin-backed propaganda intended to justify the war and influence soldiers. The initiative reflects the Russian Orthodox Church’s broader alignment with the Kremlin’s wartime messaging, including Patriarch Kirill’s portrayal of the invasion as a religious struggle.