Tatar, Crimean in Ukraine





Largest Religion

Main Language


Introduction / History

Crimean Tatars emerged as a distinct ethnic group at the close of the 13th century, following the Mongal invasion of Crimea in 1239. More than two hundred years passed before the Crimean Khanate was officially founded. By that time, Islam was firmly established in the the southern areas of modern Ukraine, especially among the Crimean Tatars.

Strategically situated on the Black Sea, Crimean power increased until 1783, when a series of wars between Russia and Turkey resulted in Crimea's absorption into Russia. The Russian government pursued the Muslim population, and more than 100,000 Tatars were compelled to leave their country. Then, in 1944, Stalin's Soviet regime deported the entire Crimean Tatar population to Central Asia and Siberia, accusing them of cooperation with Germany. It wasn't until 1989 that repatriation to their homeland began.

What are Their Lives Like?

Today, Crimean Tatars are a minority group in Ukraine, and continue to face discrimination. The mass deportation of 1944 immobilized their culture; nearly one half of their population died en route, and those who survived were forced to grow up among foreigners, far from home, often uneducated.

Until 1989, the Soviet Union refused to recognize the Crimean Tatars as a distinct ethnic group. Since the commencement of their repatriation, the Crimean Tatar National Movement Organization has documented an ethnic population of 550,000. So far the Tatars have been allocated eight areas for settlement in their homeland. Before the deportations, these areas were populated by 15 % of the Crimean Tatars; now they must contain 63.6 % of the people.

Their dress and language make it difficult to distinguish Crimean Tatars from Russians or Ukrainians. Many of their traditions are falling away, especially among the younger generation.

What are Their Beliefs?

Islam remains the dominant religion of Crimean Tatars. The majority are nominal Muslims, though the number of those practicing Islam has increased since Ukraine's independence in 1991. Only 0.01 percent of the Tatar population is Christian.

What are Their Needs?

Although granted some degree of self-determination, the Crimean Tatars who have returned still face problems.

Prayer Points

* Pray for this people group to realize that there is a God who loves them.
* Pray for workers to be raised up and sent to the Crimean Tatars to give them His Word and to help them establish a Christ centered fellowship.
* Pray for a translation of the Bible into Krym and wide distribution of it.
* Pray for tentmakers with skills in agriculture and construction to live among them, evangelize them and plant Tatar churches

Profile Source:   Anonymous  

Prayer Links
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-03-21
People Name General Tatar, Crimean (Tah-tar)
People Name in Country Tatar, Crimean
Population in Ukraine 301,000
World Population 586,000
Countries 9
Progress Scale 1.2
Least-Reached Yes
Indigenous Yes
Alternate Names Crimean Turk, Crimean Turkish, Krymchak, Nogai, Nogay Tatar, Tartar, Tatar
Affinity Bloc Turkic Peoples
People Cluster Ural-Siberian
People Name General Tatar, Crimean (Tah-tar)
Ethnic Code MSY41h
People ID 11434
Country Ukraine
Region Eastern Europe and Eurasia
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Crimea.   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Crimean Tatar Tatar: Western Tatar
Crimean Tatar Tatar: Western Tatar
Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible Portions Yes   (1659-2011)
New Testament Yes   (1666-2011)
Complete Bible No
Format Resource
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching (GRN)
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Crimean Tatar

Major Religion Percent
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.10 %)
0.12 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
0.00 %
99.88 %
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
0.00 %

Christian Segments Percent
0.0 %
0.0 %
100.0 %
Other Christian
0.0 %
0.0 %
Roman Catholic
0.0 %
Photo Source: International Mission Board-SBC   Copyrighted ©   Used with permission
Map Source: Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source: Anonymous  
Data Sources: Data is compiled from various sources. Read more
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