THIS is the bizarre moment Vladimir Putin takes a break from waging war on Ukraine to peer at the bones of a 650-year-old saint.

The ageing dictator has landed on a new tactic to boost morale – sending his soldiers a medieval corpse.

Vladimir Putin views the uncovered remains of Dmitry Donskoy during restoration work at the Cathedral of the Archangel.A church official unveils the body of a medieval Russian man Credit: Supplied Two men in dark suits look into a stone sarcophagus containing the remains of Dmitry Donskoy, a medieval warrior prince.The corpse may be shipped off to provide spiritual relief to Putin’s soldiers Credit: Supplied Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Archangel Cathedral of the KremlinPutin crosses himself as he gazes into the tomb of the former Russian ruler Credit: EPA Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Archangel Cathedral of the KremlinThe relic will be broken into parts before being sent to the frontline Credit: EPA

The body of Dmitry Donskoy, who died in 1389, was uncovered during restoration work at Moscow’s Cathedral of the Archangel.

Famous for fighting the Mongols on the Don river in 1380, the medieval warrior prince was sainted in 1988.

Now Donskoy may enter a warzone once again – with bits of his bones dispatched to the frontline.

Bizarre footage shows the tyrant crossing himself as he bends down to gaze at the desiccated corpse – before lighting a candle in prayer.

The despot rarely visits the frontline – instead watching his every move.

In the absence of their tyrannical ruler, soldiers will now be able to worship some saintly bones in the midst of deadly drone warfare.

Church official Vakhtang Kipshidze said: “Everyone shares the that the opportunity for such veneration should be provided to Orthodox military personnel as soon as possible.”

Putin has given the plan his go ahead and “best wishes”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Archangel Cathedral of the KremlinThe skeleton of the warrior prince was discovered during restoration work in the Moscow Cathedral Credit: EPA Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Archangel Cathedral of the KremlinSoldiers are set to worship the medieval corpse – with bits of the body shipped to the frontline Credit: EPA

“Even the relics are going to war, but Putin isn’t” taunted Ukrainian channel Pravda Gerashchenko.

Bits of the skeleton are set to be shipped to the frontline – where some officials believe they can lend “spiritual support”.

The move has also been mocked online, with one commenter posting on X: “Nothing says better about encouraging your troops in a battlefield by parading the corpse of a dead guy.”

Combat wounds can be spotted on his skeleton – though the ruler died of natural causes aged 39.

Just last month, the Russian army lost the bones of Prince Alexander Nevsky.

The relic was being transported for a prayer service against the spiralling fuel crisis.

But the convoy came under attack on the road – and authorities admitted that the shrine had been “completely lost”.

Three Russian soldiers also died in the drone blasts.

Putin does not often visit his ailing armies – and in May was gripped by assassination fears, banning his staff from taking the bus or using mobile phones.

The Russian tyrant, once the world’s ultimate tough guy, went into total meltdown, according to a report from The Financial Times.