Ukrainian Orientalist and Islam researcher Mykhailo Yakubovych called Muslims in Russia “Russian slaves of Muslim origin invading Ukraine on tanks".
Mykhailo Yakubovych stated this on his Facebook page:
"When you see Russian slaves invading Ukraine on Russian tanks, please, remember - this is the fate Russians want for Ukrainians. Russian ex-Muslims (it is hard to call them believers) became an "omen" and an example of how much evil total "mankurtization" (brainwashing) can bring even while traditional formal elements (mosques, madrasah etc.) remain.
None of the current "muftis" in the Russian Federation said anything against the aggression, and some even support it openly. Umma, if it exists, should renounce them as Pharisees and apostates so that their fat mugs cannot desecrate our sacred places," said Yakubovych.
As RISU reported, on March 3, one of the Muslim leaders of Ukraine, Said Ismagilov, condemned Muslim leaders of Russia who are silent about Kadyrov's acts and Russian aggression against Ukraine or even openly support them. He did so on Channel Ukraine 24 and on Facebook.
"We won't be reforging any links with the Muslim leaders of Russia. My conscience does not allow me to reach out to them. Main muftis of Russia supported aggression against Ukraine and blessed the attacks at its cities, in which Muslims of Ukraine suffer too," said mufti Ismagilov.
Mykhailo Yakubovych is a Ukrainian Orientalist, translator, and researcher of doctrinal and philosophical thought of the Islamic world. He headed the Center for Islamic Studies at the Ostroh Academy (2016–2019). Since 2020 he has been a researcher at the University of Freiburg (Germany). Yakubovych is the author of the first complete translation of the Meaning of Al-Qur'an into Ukrainian from Arabic, which was officially published by the governmental organizations of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Islamic organizations of Ukraine. He has published (and co-authored) several monographs and more than 100 scientific studies both in Ukraine and abroad.