Relic of Prince Dmitry Donskoy Deployed to Russian Frontline Units

In early September, a fragment of the right hand of Prince Dmitry Donskoy—celebrated for his 1380 victory at the Battle of Kulikovo—was dispatched to Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine. The Moscow Patriarchate’s military department described the “saint commander” as standing “shoulder to shoulder” with soldiers, and the relic has been circulated among bases as a source of moral support.

CNN

Since the 2022 invasion, the Russian Orthodox Church has increasingly intertwined with Kremlin narratives, presenting the war as a divinely sanctioned defense. Relics of another medieval warrior saint, Prince Alexander Nevsky, were taken to troops earlier in the year, and the Donskoy fragment was uncovered during restoration work at the Kremlin’s Archangel Cathedral in August.

CNN

Rev. Grigory Mikhnov-Vaytenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church, acknowledged the need to support military personnel but warned against “leading them into an illusion.” The Russian government cites the relic as evidence that Russia is defending its territory rather than acting as an aggressor.

CNN

Religious scholar Sergei Chapnin of Fordham University argued that “the church has practically merged with the state to the point of being indistinguishable,” labeling the relic campaign a “mobilizing myth.” Chapnin also noted that the combination of sacred objects with material warfare “attracts attention” and serves propaganda goals.

CNN

A state-run VCIOM telephone survey in 2026 found about two-thirds of Russians identify as Orthodox Christians, down from roughly 80 % fifteen years earlier. Interior Ministry data indicate that only about 2 % of baptized believers regularly attend services. Nevertheless, more than 90,000 people participated in a religious procession in central Saint Petersburg on September 12, and over 100,000 gathered in Moscow, where a fragment of Donskoy’s relic was carried through the streets.

CNN