Ukraine renews its request for Israeli anti-missile defense system after deadly Russian strike on Uman kills 23
The Ukrainian government renewed its request for the advanced Israeli anti-missile defense system after a deadly Russian strike killed 23 civilians in the Ukrainian city of Uman.
Known as the burial place of the great 19th century Hassidic Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews worldwide visit Uman each year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s head of office, Andriy Yermak, said the time has come for the Jewish state to provide its anti-missile defense system for the protection of civilian lives.
“Israel should use this moment to step up anti-missile and anti-drone support to Ukraine and help protect civilians from Russia’s war of aggression,” said Yermak.
The senior Ukrainian official stressed that any Israeli should be able to relate to the Ukrainian civilians suffering under missile attacks.
“All Israelis – those who visit Uman and those who never have but know what missiles raining down on civilians feel like – should take note,” stated Yermak.
Given concerns about undermining its already complex relations with Russia, Israel has provided substantial humanitarian aid to Ukraine during the past year. However, the Jewish state has been reluctant to provide any military aid to Ukraine in its defensive fight against Russia.
Moscow currently controls the airspace in Syria, where the Israeli Air Force conducts hundreds of airstrikes against Iranian military targets. As a result, Israel and Russia have established a control mechanism to avoid unintentional clashes between Russian and Israeli forces in Syria.
In February, Zelenskyy urged Israel to provide anti-missile defense systems to Ukraine, comparing its conflict to the biblical story of David vs. Goliath.
“We have no alternative but to defeat the Russian Goliath. Being David is to fight and we are fighting. Being David is to have a sling to win with,” said Zelenskyy.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
