Kremlin deploys saint relics to front lines to boost Russian troop morale

The Russian Orthodox Church, with Kremlin backing, is sending relics of saints to the front in Ukraine as part of a broader effort to sustain troop morale. This is a continuation of the Kremlin's use of religious symbolism to legitimize the invasion, though the specific deployment of relics is a notable escalation in the blending of faith and military operations. The move underscores the depth of state-church integration in Russia's war effort, but its operational impact is uncertain.