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Russian generals commanding the war against Ukraine will be required to wear body crosses with the initials of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. This is reported by the Russian "Interfax".
As Kremlin Speaker Dmytro Peskov told the newspaper, Putin asked Patriarch Kirill to consecrate body crosses and icons that will be handed over to the Russian military. In particular, they will be given to commanders of military groups that "perform particularly important tasks" on the territory of Ukraine.
"I think it will be an honor for our comrades to receive these symbols of faith, consecrated by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia during the festive service on Christmas night," Peskov quoted Putin as saying.
It is claimed that Patriarch Kirill consecrated body crosses and icons in the presence of the dictator. Peskov also added that at Putin's request, his, Putin's, initials were engraved "on individual links of the chains to the crosses."
Icons, Putin and war
As he wrote, this is not the first time that the Kremlin has used "religious weapons" in the war against Ukraine. Thus, in April 2023, holy water and icons depicting Putin in the image of a saint were handed over to the Russian "mobs" at the front.
And in May of the same year, on the eve of the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian occupiers began to carry the icon of the "Saviour Not Made by Hands" to the front. Shortly before that, Vladimir Putin presented this icon to the Dnipro military group.
