Kenneth Glad
When armies get bogged down, commanders usually look for heavier artillery or fresh troops. They scour supply depots for modern solutions to break enemy lines. But one military force has just turned to a very different kind of reinforcement.
Russia has stalled in Ukraine. Facing fierce resistance, invading forces are desperately looking for a morale boost.
President Vladimir Putin might have found his ultimate weapon. The Russian Orthodox Church recently shipped a medieval prince’s hand bone to the front lines.
The relic belongs to Dmitry Donskoy. He died in 1389, yet church leaders expect his ancient remains to help modern troops defeat their neighbors.
Help from above
Religious figures are making their expectations abundantly clear. According to HistorieNet, Metropolitan Vladimir of Donetsk and Mariupol explained the delivery.
“Our soldiers as well as the people of Donbas need strength from above, God’s help and the blessing of our saints,” the church leader said.
This extreme confidence runs deep in religious circles. Russian priest and historian Valery Dukhanin told the publication exactly what this holy bone will achieve:
“He will protect his people. We will gain victory in the current war. Russia will undoubtedly win.”
A legendary fighter
Dmitry Donskoy is not just any dusty royal. In 1380, he led a massive army against the Golden Horde, a group that controlled a powerful slice of Genghis Khan’s former empire.
Their historic clash on the Kulikovo field became legendary. Disguised as a common foot soldier, the prince fought in the bloody mud and secured a stunning victory.
The triumph turned him into a permanent Russian hero. The Orthodox Church officially recognized him as a saint in 1988. Now, 646 years later, authorities separated his right hand from his body and sent it to a modern war.
Missing the full story
Kremlin officials conveniently skip a crucial detail. The famous royal actually lost his wider conflict against the empire.
Two years after his legendary win, Mongol forces returned with a vengeance. They burned Moscow to the ground. The invaders then forced the humbled royal to pay them tribute again.
None of that matters to Russian leadership today. Putin frequently uses historical triumphs to paint his nation as an unstoppable fortress, leaning on old myths to unite the public against outside threats.
Dead or alive, the old prince is officially back on duty. Moscow needs every body on the modern battlefield.
Sources: Historienet
