Russia Sends Bones of Medieval Warrior to Ukraine Front to Boost Morale

The Russian Orthodox Church has sent a fragment of a medieval warrior prince’s right hand to Russian troops in occupied Ukraine, saying the relic will strengthen their morale. The remains of Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy were uncovered this summer during restoration work at Moscow’s Cathedral of the Archangel, inside the Kremlin.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Donskoy, who died in 1389, is revered by Russian nationalists for defeating forces of the Golden Horde at the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally inspected the remains in August, describing their discovery as “absolutely unique and marvelous” and saying it “reinforced the foundations of Russian history.” Donskoy’s name was given to a Soviet tank column funded by the church during World War II. The Russian Orthodox Church canonized him in 1988. Critics accused the church of breaking religious protocol by opening the tomb. Although Donskoy’s burial place had long been broadly known, no attempt had been made to recover and venerate his remains during the nearly four decades since his canonization. Despite the objections, the church removed a fragment of Donskoy’s right hand and placed it in an ornate reliquary protected by reinforced glass. The reliquary containing a fragment of Dmitry Donskoy’s right hand. (Image via Telegram) Other Topics of Interest India Welcomes Russia, Iran Leaders for BRICS Summit Overshadowed by War Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as global trade turbulence and oil are expected on the agenda at the two-day annual summit that opens on Saturday, when Xi is set to arrive. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, senior Orthodox clergy held a prayer service around the relic at the Saur-Mogila war memorial in occupied Donetsk Oblast. Russian military representatives and Kremlin-installed officials also attended. The relic will now be displayed to Russian combat units along the more than 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. “The very same right hand with which he wielded his sword ... has been sent to the front,” the church said, claiming the relic would strengthen the soldiers’ spirits. The church referred to Donskoy as its “holy commander” and said he would stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Russian troops. The Russian Orthodox Church has strongly supported the Kremlin’s aggression, sending priests to military units, ordering prayers for a Russian victory and portraying the war against Ukraine as a religious struggle. Earlier this year, relics of Alexander Nevsky, another medieval prince revered by the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian nationalists, were also sent to the front. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.