Russian soldiers given church-blessed Warhammer 40k seals to ‘keep them safe'
In the tabletop model game, which is popular in
Ratnik Tactical, the Russian military equipment maker, said on Telegram: 'The best warriors of humanity applied scrolls with prayers and promises to their armour before the battle.
'We really liked this image, and we decided that Russian soldiers are rightfully the best warriors of humanity, and can also wear such scrolls into battle. Thousands of seals have already gone to the front, and gave hope to soldiers in the darkest hour.'
The seals, with the words of Psalm 90, are similar in style to Warhammer 40k and cost about £9. The psalm is about the brevity of life.
It replaces the space marine skull with a Christian symbol and is available in normal and 'sooty versions'.
The phenomenon was spotted and researched by ChrisO_wiki, a military history author and blogger on the Ukraine war.
He said on X: 'The seals have been blessed by priests at the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces in Kubinka near Moscow.'
'Again, this reflects Warhammer 40k lore, which has Space Marine Chaplains blessing purity seals 'with chanted litanies in honour of the Primarch and the Emperor.'
He added that it reflected the huge popularity of the game in Russia and Ukraine and purity seals have been worn by soldiers on both sides as far back as February last year.
Warhammer 40k is set in a dystopian future where war is everywhere. Humans are part of a galaxy-wide empire in service to a corpse emperor and wage genocidal conflicts.
In
Some soldiers have dressed up as characters from the game, according to images on social media.
The drone group leader sits in his Warhammer gaming chair. In comments underneath the video of their attacks, commenters made numerous references to Warhammer 40k, including the grisly motto 'blood for the blood god'.
Warhammer imagery is used in pictures shared online featuring Putin as an axe-wielding armoured solder or space marine style warriors in armour painted the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
The Ukrainians also have their own purity seals. Images shared online showed them being stuck on military vehicles.
Other soldiers sport real-life versions of the game's battle badges and gruesome skull symbols.
The Russian seals have been criticised by some for fusing Orthodox theology with pagan fantasy.
Alexander Soldatov, the religious journalist, said: 'Amulets are not typical for the Orthodox tradition at all, they have always been perceived as an element of paganism, magic, in this case, combat magic.
'But in war, all means are good, and the Russian Orthodox Church no longer shies away from using any mechanisms, including purely occult ones.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Putin's 'secret daughter' works at anti-war art galleries in European capital
The Kremlin has never commented on the alleged links between Elizaveta Krivonogikh, born in 2003, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite others noting their resemblance Vladimir Putin's alleged secret daughter is reportedly working at art galleries in Paris that show exhibitions denouncing her father's war in Ukraine. Elizaveta Krivonogikh, 22, who is also known as Luiza Rozova and now Elizaveta Rudnova, is said to be schmoozing with Ukrainian artists as well as Russia dissidents in the heart of France's capital. She is reportedly working at L Galerie in Belleville and Espace Albatros in Montreuil. News outlet Meduza cites a Russian artist claiming both galleries are known for exhibiting anti-war work. Her gallery manager role also includes making videos that have sparked ire among exiled Russians and Ukrainians. Commenting online, artist Nastya Rodionova - who fled Russia following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - said: "It's important to say that I believe in the presumption of innocence and that children are not responsible for the crimes of their parents. "But with the war reaching its heights it is inadmissible to allow a person who comes from a family of beneficiaries of [Putin's] regime to come into confrontation with the victims of that regime. We need to know who we are working with and decide whether we are ready for that. My personal answer in this case is no." But Dmitry Dolinsky, the director of L Association that controls Studio Albatros and L Galerie, backed Elizaveta's role and cast doubt over whether she is actually Putin's daughter. Speaking to The Times, he said: "She looks like Putin but so do 100,000 other people. I haven't seen a DNA test." She has also been praised as a "cultured person" and an "excellent worker". However, some like Nastya say victims of the war should not feel forced to share a space with anyone with connections to the regime. Elisaveta's mum, Svetlana Krivonogikh, was sanctioned by the Conservative government in 2023. She is thought to own £73m worth of properties. Elizaveta ditched social media just before the Russian invasion of Ukraine but previously shared snaps of her glitzy lifestyle. Ukrainian TV claimed she lived in Paris with a passport under the name Rudnova. The Kremlin as never spoken about alleged ties between her and Putin, nor has Elizaveta publicly confirmed a link to the Russian despot. Putin has only acknowledged his daughters Maria and Katerina from his marriage to Lyudmila Putina, who he had been married to until 2014. He is rumoured to have more children, including sons with the former gymnast Alina Kabaeva.
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
Putin's secret daughter, 22, ‘working in anti-war art gallery in Paris' after ‘ditching tyrant's name'
VLADIMIR Putin's alleged secret daughter is reportedly working at two Parisian art galleries that showcase anti-war exhibitions. Elizaveta Krivonogikh, 22 – also known as Luiza Rozova and now Elizaveta Rudnova – is said to be rubbing shoulders with Russian dissidents and Ukrainian artists in the French capital. 6 6 6 6 Reports say she is working at L Galerie in Belleville and Espace Albatros in Montreuil, despite being the daughter of a regime responsible for the war they oppose. Both galleries are said to be known for exhibiting anti-war art, according to outlet Meduza, citing a Russian artist. She also reportedly dropped the Putin-linked name and adopted one tied to Oleg Rudnov, a late Vlad ally - in an apparent attempt to mask her ties to the Kremlin tyrant. Her role as gallery manager includes helping organise shows and make videos, and it has seemed to spark fury among exiled Russians and Ukrainians. Artist Nastya Rodionova, who fled Russia in 2022, said she couldn't stay silent. In a Facebook post, she wrote: 'It's important to say that I believe in the presumption of innocence and that children are not responsible for the crimes of their parents. 'But with the war reaching its heights it is inadmissible to allow a person who comes from a family of beneficiaries of [Putin's] regime to come into confrontation with the victims of that regime. 'We need to know who we are working with and decide whether we are ready for that. My personal answer in this case is no.' Dmitry Dolinsky, director of L Association that controls Studio Albatros and L Galerie, defended Rudnova's role. He told The Times: 'She looks like Putin but so do 100,000 other people. I haven't seen a DNA test.' Some insiders back her, calling her a 'cultured person' and 'excellent worker'. But Rodionova hit back, warning that victims of the war shouldn't be forced to share space with anyone tied to the regime – alleged daughter or not. Rudnova's mother, Svetlana Krivonogikh, was sanctioned by the UK in 2023 and linked to Putin's inner circle by independent Russian media. She reportedly owns property worth $100million and was outed as Putin's former mistress by the Proekt investigative team. Elizaveta vanished from Russian social media shortly before the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. She once flaunted a lavish lifestyle on Instagram, posting photos in designer clothes, sipping champagne, and DJing under the name Luiza Rozova. Ukrainian TV later claimed she was living in Paris with a passport under the name Rudnova, allegedly ditching the patronymic Vladimirovna, which would confirm her father's name as Vladimir. 6 6 Born in March 2003, Elizaveta has never publicly confirmed a link to the Russian tyrant. The Kremlin has never confirmed her existence either. But the timing of her birth, her resemblance to Putin, and her mother's major financial rise have fuelled years of speculation. Kremlin critics say she is part of the hidden empire Putin has built for his inner circle and family. Officially, Putin only acknowledges two daughters, Maria and Katerina, from his marriage to Lyudmila Putina, whom he divorced in 2014. But it's long been rumoured he has more children — including two sons with former gymnast Alina Kabaeva. Who are Vladimir Putin's daughters? VLADIMIR Putin is known for keeping his personal and family life very private, but some details about the tyrant's children have surfaced over the years. Maria Vorontsova (née Putin, born April 28, 1985): His eldest, 39, leads government-funded programs personally overseen by Putin, which have received billions from the Kremlin for genetic research. She is the first of two daughters of Putin and his ex-wife, Lyudmila Putina. Maria is said to be an expert in rare genetic diseases in children, and also dwarfism, according to reports. She was married to Dutch businessman Jorrit Faassen. In 2013, the couple were living in a penthouse in Voorschoten, the Netherlands, but the following year, Dutch residents called for her to be expelled following the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine. The pair are believed to have moved the Moscow the following year. In March 2022, it was reported that the couple had split after the war in Ukraine crushed Maria's dreams of opening a money-spinning clinic for wealthy foreigners in Russia Katerina Tikhonova (née Putin, born August 31, 1986): Also daughter of Putin and Lyudmila, 38-year-old Katerina is a tech boss whose work supports the Russian government and defence industry. She started as a "rock'n'roll" dancer before moving into the world of artificial intelligence. In 2013, his daughter Katerina married Kirill Shamalov, whose father, Nikolai, is a longtime friend of the president. Nikolai Shamalov is a shareholder in Bank Rossiya, described by US officials as the Russian elite's personal bank. They were married in a secret ceremony at the Igor ski resort just north of St Petersburg. It was reported at the time that the pair rode into the ceremony on a sleigh pulled by three white horses. All the guests invited were sworn to secrecy, and the Kremlin has never confirmed that the wedding took place. "I have a private life in which I do not permit interference," Putin once said. "It must be respected." The couple had corporate holdings worth around $2 billion, according to Reuters, mainly from their large stake in Sibur Holding, a major gas and petrochemical company Kirill bought from another long-time friend of Putin, Gennady Timchenko. Kirill also bought off Timchenko's luxury villa in the seaside resort of Biarritz, southern France, estimated to be worth some $3.7m. In March 2022, the house was taken over by pro-Ukraine activists, in response to Russia's brutal invasion. But Katerina and Kirill divorced in January 2018, with Putin's former son in law rumoured to have been romantically involved with London -based Russian socialite Zhanna Volkova. After the split, Kirill was said to be forced to give up his stocks in Sibur, and he lost almost half his wealth. Their divorce settlement hasn't been disclosed but likely runs into the millions. Despite that, Kirill is still worth an estimated $800 million. Putin was reported to be "quietly grooming" Katerina to be his successor. Vlad is also rumoured to have "hidden" children, though he has never confirmed these reports. Elizaveta Rozova (aka Luiza Rozova): Elizaveta, also known as Luiza Rozova, 21, is the rumoured love child from Putin's alleged affair with a former cleaner. The daughter of Svetlana Krivonogikh, who later became a millionaire, is now a fashion designer and DJ. She often shared details from her lavish life on Instagram, until suddenly taking down the page in the wake of the Ukraine war. Speculation also surrounds his supposed secret family with Alina Kabaeva, a former rhythmic gymnast once known as "the most flexible woman in Russia". Officials have denied that he has kids with Alina, but it is reported that she is in hiding in Switzerland, avoiding any possible sanctions in the wake of the Ukraine war. A petition demanding she is thrown out by the Swiss authorities has garnered 75,000 signatures, demanding that "it's time you reunite Eva Braun with her Führer". Alina retired from gymnastics and took a strange career turn to become a Russian MP. The former athlete - dubbed "Russia's First Mistress" - the Duma, the Russian parliament in 2007, representing her alleged lover's United Russia party but left years later to pick up a lucrative job running a media company, despite having no previous experience. In April, Alina's name and picture was dramatically stripped from the website of the media empire she controlled.
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Putin's secret daughter, 22, ‘working in anti-war art galleries in Paris' after ‘ditching tyrant's name'
She vanished from Russian social media shortly before the start of the war TAKE VLAD Putin's secret daughter, 22, 'working in anti-war art galleries in Paris' after 'ditching tyrant's name' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VLADIMIR Putin's alleged secret daughter is reportedly working at two Parisian art galleries that showcase anti-Kremlin and anti-war exhibitions. Elizaveta Krivonogikh, 22 – also known as Luiza Rozova and now Elizaveta Rudnova – is said to be rubbing shoulders with Russian dissidents and Ukrainian artists in the French capital. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Elizaveta Krivonogikh, also known as Elizaveta Rudnova, is said to be Vladimir Putin's secret daughter Credit: East2West 6 The 22-year-old is reportedly working at two art galleries in Paris Credit: Social media 6 She is said to be Putin's offspring with his former long-term lover Svetlana Krivonogikh Credit: Elizaveta Krivonogikh 6 One of the galleries is said to be Espace Albatros in the neighbourhood of Montreuil Credit: Google Maps Reports say she is working at L Galerie in Belleville and Espace Albatros in Montreuil, despite being the daughter of a regime responsible for the war they oppose. She also reportedly dropped the Putin-linked name and adopted one tied to Oleg Rudnov, a late Vlad ally - in an apparent attempt to mask her ties to the Kremlin tyrant. Her role as gallery manager includes helping organise shows and make videos, according to outlet Meduza. But it has seemed to spark fury among exiled Russians and Ukrainians. Artist Nastya Rodionova, who fled Russia in 2022, said she couldn't stay silent. In a Facebook post, she wrote: 'It's important to say that I believe in the presumption of innocence and that children are not responsible for the crimes of their parents. 'But with the war reaching its heights it is inadmissible to allow a person who comes from a family of beneficiaries of [Putin's] regime to come into confrontation with the victims of that regime. 'We need to know who we are working with and decide whether we are ready for that. My personal answer in this case is no.' Gallery director Dmitry Dolinsky, meanwhile, defended Rudnova's role. Putin warns Trump he 'will have to respond' to Ukraine's daring drone attack in hour-long phone call with president 'She looks like Putin but so do 100,000 other people. I haven't seen a DNA test.' Some insiders back her, calling her a 'cultured person' and 'excellent worker'. But Rodionova hit back, warning that victims of the war shouldn't be forced to share space with anyone tied to the regime – alleged daughter or not. Rudnova's mother, Svetlana Krivonogikh, was sanctioned by the UK in 2023 and linked to Putin's inner circle by independent Russian media. She reportedly owns property worth $100million and was outed as Putin's former mistress by the Proekt investigative team. Elizaveta vanished from Russian social media shortly before the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. She once flaunted a lavish lifestyle on Instagram, posting photos in designer clothes, sipping champagne, and DJing under the name Luiza Rozova. Ukrainian TV later claimed she was living in Paris with a passport under the name Rudnova, allegedly ditching the patronymic Vladimirovna, which would confirm her father's name as Vladimir. 6 Elizaveta would often flaunt her wealth with social media posts Credit: East2West 6 She also allegedly ditched her tyrant dad's surname Credit: East2West Born in March 2003, Elizaveta has never publicly confirmed a link to the Russian tyrant. The Kremlin has never confirmed her existence either. But the timing of her birth, her resemblance to Putin, and her mother's major financial rise have fuelled years of speculation. Kremlin critics say she is part of the hidden empire Putin has built for his inner circle and family. Officially, Putin only acknowledges two daughters, Maria and Katerina, from his marriage to Lyudmila Putina, whom he divorced in 2014. But it's long been rumoured he has more children — including two sons with former gymnast Alina Kabaeva.
