Putin engraves his initials on Orthodox religious items distributed to Russian military commanders

After attending a midnight Orthodox Christmas service in Moscow on January 7, Vladimir Putin asked Patriarch Kirill to bless a collection of crosses and religious icons to be distributed to Russian military commanders deployed in Ukraine. The president also requested engravings of his personal initials on some of the necklace chains, the Kremlin confirmed on Tuesday.

“I think it will be an honor for our comrades to receive these symbols of faith, blessed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus during the festive Christmas service,” the president said at the ceremony, according to his press secretary.