Relic Sent to Front
Russian Orthodox Church Sends Medieval Prince Relic to Ukraine Front Lines
Anonymous
Key Points
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The remains attributed to Donskoy were discovered during summer restoration work at Moscow’s Cathedral of the Archangel, and current president Vladimir Putin personally inspected them in August, calling the find “an absolutely unique and marvellous discovery.”
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The reliquary is expected to be shown to Russian combat units along the more than 1,000-kilometre front line, according to the Moscow Patriarchate.
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Sergei Kiriyenko, the first deputy chief of staff of the Russian presidential administration, publicly promoted the ritual during a visit to occupied Donetsk and urged Russian soldiers to seek the relic’s “blessing” for the war against Ukraine.
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Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation said the involvement of Kiriyenko—an official responsible for occupied Ukrainian territories and their forced integration into Russia—indicated participation by the presidential administration and security services, rather than a purely religious initiative.
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Patriarch Kirill has described the invasion as a “holy war” and, in a 2024 document, characterized it as a struggle between Christian Russia and a “satanic” West; he has also claimed that Russian soldiers killed in the conflict would be cleansed of their sins.
The Russian Orthodox Church has sent a reliquary containing bone fragments attributed to 14th-century Prince Dmitry Donskoy to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. Sight Magazine reports the remains—from Donskoy's sword hand—were discovered during summer restoration work at Moscow's Cathedral of the Archangel. The church presented the relic as spiritual protection for troops, displaying it at the Saur-Mohyla memorial in occupied Donetsk before moving it closer to the front line.
Russian officials have promoted the ritual as morale-building, with Archynetys reporting that Vladimir Putin personally inspected the remains in August, calling them "an absolutely unique and marvellous discovery." However, Ukrainian analysts describe the campaign as Kremlin propaganda designed to justify the war. The initiative reflects the Russian Orthodox Church's alignment with Moscow's wartime messaging, framing the invasion as a religious struggle.
A Medieval Symbol for Modern War
Dmitry Donskoy, canonized by the Russian church in 1988, defeated the Mongol Golden Horde in 1380—a victory celebrated by Russian nationalists as a defining moment in history. Vijesti notes the remains came from his sword-wielding hand, making the relic symbolically powerful for a military campaign. Russian officials framed the bones as a source of divine strength and protection for soldiers fighting on the 1,000-plus kilometre front line.
Kremlin Officials Openly Promote the Relic
Sergei Kiriyenko, the first deputy chief of staff of Russia's presidential administration, publicly promoted the ritual during a visit to occupied Donetsk. He urged soldiers to seek the relic's "blessing" for the war. Democrata reported on the involvement of church and state officials working together on the initiative. Kiriyenko oversees occupied Ukrainian territories and their forced integration into Russia, signaling high-level government backing.
Ukraine Calls It Propaganda, Not Faith
Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation flagged Kiriyenko's involvement as proof that state security services—not just the church—orchestrated the campaign. The move aims to justify the invasion and influence soldiers' loyalty. SSB Crack highlighted how the story generated major international coverage. Patriarch Kirill has described the invasion as a "holy war" and claimed that Russian soldiers killed in combat would be cleansed of their sins.
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