The Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine analyzes how Islam supports russia’s war in Ukraine.
Statistical analysis of the killed and captured occupants shows that the vast majority belong to non-Slavic ethnic groups. As a priority, russia drafts people from the North Caucasus republics. In addition, Kadyrov’s powerful personal propaganda promotes the recruitment of healthy North Caucasian youth through sports clubs and mosques.
After the First and the Second Chechen wars, russian authorities channeled the Chechens’ martial spirit into a controlled course to protect russia against further threats in the North Caucasus.
In addition, when Putin came to power, the Federal Security Service of the russian federation (FSB) immediately took control of all Muslim religious institutions in russia. Currently, most russian muftis cooperate with the FSB or are directly employed.
There is no modern military equipment and army professionals among the locals in Chechnya, so there are no fighter pilots or armoured soldiers among the “Kadyrovites.” However, Chechnya hosts significant units of the National Guard of the russian federation and the russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. These local units provide the infantry to perform punitive functions in occupied territories or to cast propaganda videos for a Muslim audience.
Kadyrov’s advertising is aimed not only at the domestic Muslim audience for additional draft resources. It is spread across the entire Islamic world and promotes a positive attitude toward the russian invasion in general and specifically in Ukraine.
The public media display of Kadyrovites’ religiosity shapes the image of russia as an antagonist to the United States. As a result, most Muslim countries, but Turkey, not only ignore russian aggression but also seek to help russia circumvent the Western sanctions.
The Islamic world perceives the russian invasion of Ukraine as russia’s war against the United States and even calls it “jihad” thanks to the russian propaganda efforts. Putin undoubtedly pointed out that russia also relies on Islamic extremists when he declared, “… I’m a Latvian, I’m a Dagestani, I’m a Chechen, an Ingush…”
Russian Muslim leaders distort Islamic values expressing an anti-Ukrainian position. Muslims are directed against the interests of Islam for the sake of “returning historical lands,” “unification of the russian peoples,” and “protecting Orthodoxy and its shrines.” The propaganda slogans replace the concepts of a just war and protecting the people with the idea of liberating Ukraine from the Nazis or the Banderites.
For Muslims, a spiritual leader’s word is crucial. Therefore, when remote mountain villages’ muftis tell their residents about “jihad,” the locals sign military contracts to support this “holy war. “
There is no unified position in the Islamic world toward the war in Ukraine. A pragmatic approach to relations with russia or simply anti-American sentiments dominate proponents of the kremlin’s actions. Muslim supporters of Ukraine, on the other hand, are more aware of the real reasons for the war and its defensive nature.
Governments’ official positions and public sentiment often vary. In particular, Bashar Assad’s regime supports the war in Ukraine. At the same time, The Syrian Islamic Council and representatives of Syrian rebel groups expressed solidarity with the Ukrainians.
