Today President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy together with Ukrainian servicemen professing Islam, leaders of Crimean Tatar Mejlis, and representatives of Muslim clergy took part in Iftar, a dinner held during the holy month of Ramadan. Last year, in 2023, the tradition of holding Iftar at the state level was initiated by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The event was held in Kyiv, on the territory of the Religious Administration of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. This is a religious organization that unites some of the Muslim communities and is the central spiritual and administrative body of Crimean Muslims. The Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Religious Administration of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in partnership with the Crimean Tatar community in Kyiv organized the event.  

Iftar was shared with the head of state by Ukrainian Muslim soldiers who now serve in the ranks of the Ukrainian Defense Forces: Ukrainians who have converted to Islam, Crimean Tatars, Ichkerians, Dagestanis, Azerbaijanis. Among them were chaplains, paramedics, volunteers, and others.

The Iftar was also attended by: Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and his deputies; Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Tamila Tasheva; Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov; Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov;  leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev; Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Refat Chubarov and other members of the Mejlis, Mufti of the Religious Administration of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Sheikh Ayder Rustamov, Deputy Mufti of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Ummah” Mamet Mamutov, Chief Ombudsman of the Republic of Türkiye Şeref Malkoç, Secretary General of GUAM Altai Efendiev, Ambassadors of Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Palestine, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Libya, Pakistan, Indonesia, South Africa to Ukraine, representatives of diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan, Algeria, Sudan, Qatar, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan accredited in Ukraine, cultural and public figures.

“Unity is always important, especially when life is overshadowed by war and the strikes of evil. I would like to thank all those who are bringing closer the liberation of our country and the liberation of our Crimea. And I would like to mention all those who find opportunities to take care of our citizens in the occupied territories of Ukraine: children and the elderly, who need support so that they do not learn evil. And about our elderly, so that they have respect and the necessary support,” said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also noted all those who find opportunities to take care of our citizens in the occupied territory of Ukraine: children, and elderly people who need support.

“I am also grateful to all those who help our country return deported children abducted by Russia and adults to Ukraine. These are thousands of lives. We must save them all. Every leader whose mediation returns our children from deportation and saves adults from Russian repressions deserves global gratitude,” the Head of State mentioned.

The President of Ukraine wished peace and tranquility to the people who are deprived of normal life and security due to hostilities: people in Syria, Gaza, Libya, and Sudan.

“In Ukraine, we wish everyone who values life real protection. We wish a just peace to all nations whose homes are being destroyed by war. We wish justice to our state of Ukraine and all other nations. May this time of Ramadan support all of us – our people and our country. And may our unity remain firm,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

In his speech, the Head of State also mentioned Ukrainian captives, military, and civilians, particularly those who were imprisoned by the occupiers in our Crimea.

The President presented the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III class, and the Orders “For Courage”, III class, to intelligence officers, artillerymen, machine gunners, and servicemen of assault forces who showed courage and selflessness in the defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev expressed his gratitude to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy for spending one evening of the holy month of Ramadan together with citizens and soldiers of the Muslim faith.  In his speech, he noted that Ukrainian citizens of all religions, including Muslims, are fighting for freedom, independence of Ukraine, and the liberation of all occupied territories.

“You are now fulfilling not only your civil but also your religious duty. After all, according to the principles of Islam, the war for one’s Homeland is a duty for every Muslim,”  Mustafa Dzhemilev addressed the present soldiers. “We know that you have buried many of your comrades. This is war. But our people have a principle: those who have fallen for their country do not die. Our state will never forget them, they will always be the pride of our people”.

The leader of the Crimean Tatar people expressed his belief that the punishment for all the evil done will definitely return to those who are guilty of this war. At the same time, Mustafa Dzhemilev thanked all the countries of the world that help to protect the Ukrainian people today. He wished that the holy month of Ramadan would be another opportunity for the whole Ukrainian people to rally together to defeat the enemy.

The next speaker was the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov. He emphasized that there are thousands of Muslims fighting in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and this is the third Ramadan since the beginning of the full-scale invasion that they are spending in the trenches defending the future of Ukraine.

“We are very grateful to our warriors who are jointly pushing the enemy out of our land, defending justice and peace. Our prayers are with those who died for a free Ukraine. I ask the Almighty to grant us victory over the occupier as soon as possible. So that we liberate our Homeland and our people as soon as possible and ensure the rule of law for all our fellow citizens from Yalta to Chernihiv, from Luhansk to Uzhhorod,” Rustem Umerov mentioned.

At the end of the official part, the choir of the Honored Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Armed Forces of Ukraine performed the ancient Crimean Tatar Illyah. The choral performance was led by a serviceman, Crimean Tatar Ismail Kurt-Umer.

Mufti of the Religious Administration of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Sheikh Ayder Rustamov said the Iftar prayer, which symbolizes the end of the fast on this day.

The event also featured an exhibition entitled “Qurans that Survived Deportation”, which displayed editions of Qurans published in Crimea and abroad. The oldest edition was published in the late XIX century. People took some of them with them during the deportation, and later their children returned the books to their homeland. The Qurans are not only important artifacts of the cultural and religious heritage of the Crimean Tatars but also witnesses to the difficult fate of the indigenous people of Ukraine, who, despite all the trials, have preserved their faith and values.

The other part of the exhibition consisted of portraits of soldiers: Crimean Tatars and Muslim Ukrainians originally from Crimea, who talked about their family history and their motivation to fight for the territorial integrity of today’s Ukraine. The exhibition also included portraits of Ichkerians and Azerbaijanis who are fighting on the front lines defending Ukraine.