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)