Ukrainian armed forces congratulate Muslims on Eid al-Fitr festival

Ukraine’s armed forces have shared a video on their social media platforms for the festival of Eid al-Fitr, congratulating Muslims on the end of Ramadan.

The video features a choir of soldiers congratulating Muslims for the occasion and chanting the 'Salawat' – an Islamic phrase which conveys salutations to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

Dear Muslims of #Ukraine, servicemen and civilians, as well as our partners from other countries!
The Armed Forces of Ukraine congratulate you on #Ramadan and sincerely thank you for your joint actions to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/BvYwhQPCVn

— ArmyInform (@armyinformcomua) May 1, 2022

The accompanying text wished the "Muslims of #Ukraine, servicemen and civilians, as well as our partners from other countries" on the end of the month of Ramadan, and adds that "The Armed Forces of Ukraine congratulate you on #Ramadan and sincerely thank you for your joint actions to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine!"

Eid al-Fitr is the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

Muslims in Ukraine - who make up about one percent of the population - will celebrate the festival in a warzone, as Russia’s invasion has devastated much of the country.

Ukrainian authorities are planning the evacuation of more civilians from Mariupol on Monday after the city was trapped under heavy Russian fire for several weeks. The war has intensified in the eastern parts of the country where Moscow’s forces appear to be focusing their attacks.

Russia first launched its attack in late February. The war has led to thousands of deaths and it is believed around 11 million people have been forced to flee their homes.