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KOSTIANTYNIVKA, Ukraine (AP) By the time the Russians invaded, 43-year-old Mufti Said Ismahilov one of the Muslim spiritual leaders of Ukraine had already resolved that he would step aside from his religious duties to fight for his country.
On Eid al-Adha, an important religious holiday in Islam, Ukrainian Mufti turned fighter Said Ismahilov asked fellow Ukrainian muslims to pray for victory and for those still living in areas under Russian occupation. Muslims make up almost 1 percent of the population in Ukraine, which is predominantly Orthodox Christian. In Kostiantynivka, in the last remaining operational mosque in Ukrainian-controlled territory in Donbas, dozens of Ukrainian muslims gathered to mark the religious holiday. Ismahilov works now as a military driver for paramedics evacuating the wounded from front lines or besieged towns. He sees his new job as “a continuation of my spiritual duty before God.”
Mufti Sheikh Said Ismahilov, one of the Muslim spiritual leaders of Ukraine, said they would pray for victory and the liberation of the occupied territories.
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