Putin sends relics of Grand Prince Donskoy to eastern Ukraine for supernatural aid

Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking supernatural assistance for his war in Ukraine by sending the relics of Grand Prince Dmitri Donskoy to the occupied territories. The decision, made in conjunction with the Russian Orthodox Church, involves exhuming the remains from Moscow's Archangel Cathedral and placing them in reliquaries for soldiers to venerate.

Dmitri Donskoy is historically significant for his victory over the Golden Horde in 1380 and for building the Kremlin's stone walls. The relics will be distributed to churches in eastern Ukraine and other locations. A church representative described the move as logical, citing soldiers' desire to worship Donskoy's relics.

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It is unlikely that [the decision] will help end the war. But, if Putin took his place, it might work.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andri Sybiha, offered a concise response, stating the move is unlikely to end the war but might be effective if Putin were to take Donskoy's place. This action follows previous instances where Putin has leveraged religion and the Orthodox Church to support his military efforts. Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, has been a vocal supporter of the war, with clergy blessing soldiers and weapons. The church has even declared pacifism a heresy and punished priests who prayed for peace in Ukraine.

Despite the religious rhetoric, Russian forces have continued to strike civilian targets in Ukraine, including Orthodox churches and cathedrals. In the past few days, attacks across Ukraine have resulted in civilian casualties, with significant damage reported in the Chernihiv region.

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soldiers have the desire and need to worship Donskoy's relics.