Russia sends medieval saint relics to troops as spiritual boost in Ukraine war

As the war in Ukraine enters its fifth winter, Russian troops in the east are receiving relics of historic warrior saints, including a fragment of Dmitry Donskoy’s right hand, which the Moscow Patriarchate describes as a "saint commander" fighting alongside them. Scholars argue the move recasts Donskoy as a defender rather than an aggressor, reinforcing a narrative that Russia is protecting its territory. Metropolitan Vladimir, the Russian-installed Orthodox leader in Donetsk and Mariupol, claims the relics will strengthen both spiritual and physical resolve.

The practice follows earlier transfers of Prince Alexander Nevsky’s remains and underscores the close alignment of the Kremlin with the Russian Orthodox Church since the 2022 invasion. While some soldiers find the presence of priests and holy objects a vital source of moral support, others view the relics as a symbolic gesture that does little for families of the fallen. Critics within the wider Orthodox community denounce the exploitation of religious symbols for patriotic purposes.