‘Repel the enemy’: Crimean Tatars have become a key asset for Ukraine’s war effort Submitted by Driss Rejichi on Fri, 06/26/2026 - 09:33 The Ukrainian Muslim minority has gained growing recognition in military, political and cultural spheres as it struggles to end Russia’s occupation of Crimea Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the deportation of the indigenous population of Crimea by the USSR, on Independence Square in Kiev, 18 May 2019 (Genya Savilov/AFP) Off On the edge of the Ukrainian capital, inside the Kyiv Islamic Cultural Centre, a handful of Crimean Tatars conclude their Friday prayer with the taslim greeting. Isa Akayev exits the masjid last. Even though he has been retired since December, the 60-year-old veteran still proudly wears a shirt bearing the symbol of the Ukrainian Military Intelligence, along with his beard and taqiyah hat.