A Muslim battalion will be set up under the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and deployed in Kherson region to control the passage of goods across the border between Crimea and mainland Ukraine, the Crimean News Agency (qha.com.ua) has reported, with reference to the Ukrainian President's Commissioner for the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Jemilev.

"A decision to establish a Muslim battalion has been made, which will be subordinated to the Defense Ministry of Ukraine, and which will be mainly deployed in Kherson region on the border with Crimea," Jemilev said while speaking at the Second World Congress of the Crimean Tatars in Ankara, Turkey, on Saturday.

According to him, a large number of Chechens, Ingush, Azerbaijanis, Uzbeks and other nationals have already expressed their interest in serving with the battalion.

Jemilev said that the same battalion could also be used to control the passage of people and goods across the border between the occupied Crimea and mainland Ukraine, and after the liberation of Crimea - to ensure law and order and to prevent possible unrest on the peninsula.

"We consider it worthwhile to bring together all our compatriots, who are now forced to leave their homeland and settle in other regions of Ukraine, in Kherson region. Through this we can achieve several goals. Firstly, if they live together in their linguistic and religious environment, there will be less of a risk of losing their national identity. Secondly, this will give an opportunity to build and open national schools and religious institutions. Thirdly, this will increase the Ukrainian presence in this difficult region which is largely subjected to the Russian propaganda. Fourthly, this will facilitate the return of compatriots to their homeland after its liberation from the occupation," Jemilev said.