Author: Карабас Барабас

On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Chernivtsi space “Hub 82” – presentation of the book “Not About War” (translated from Ukrainian “Not About War”) — a posthumous collection of artistic works and frontline letters of serviceman, journalist, videographer, photographer, artist, and writer Maksym Shvartsman.

The date was not chosen by chance. The presentation is exactly on the third anniversary of Maksym’s death, who died on July 15, 2023, during a combat mission in the Bakhmut direction.

The book was published by the Chernivtsi publishing house “Bukrek”. The meeting is moderated by candidate of historical sciences Natalia Nechaeva-Yuriychuk. As the organizers emphasize, this is not just a literary presentation, but an evening of returning the voice of a person whom the war deprived of the opportunity to fulfill his long-standing dream — to publish his own prose.

The Chernivtsi Jewish newspaper Czernowitzer Zeitung calls Maksym Shvartsman a Jewish defender of Ukraine and emphasizes the special significance of his story for the Jewish community of Chernivtsi. He belonged to Ukrainian Jewry, worked in media, engaged in art, raised children, and from the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion voluntarily stood up to defend Ukraine.

Maksym Shvartsman: from Kalanchak to Chernivtsi

Maksym Shvartsman was born on October 17, 1987, in Kalanchak, Kherson region.

After finishing school, he entered the Odessa National University, where he chose the specialty of a historian. However, he could not complete his studies: after his mother’s death, he had to earn a living on his own.

At different times, Maksym worked as a courier, cook, and took on other jobs, but his true calling remained creativity. He was interested in history, architecture, and archaeology, participated in excavations, loved nature, photographed, painted, wrote stories and songs, played the guitar, came up with scripts, and made short films.

After moving to Chernivtsi, Maksym started working on local television. Initially, he filmed news stories, then TV shows, commercials, and author projects. Later, he worked as an operator and photojournalist in several Chernivtsi media, including the information agency ASS.

Colleagues knew him primarily as a talented videographer and photographer. However, not everyone guessed that for many years Maksym wrote artistic prose and dreamed of engaging not only in television journalism but also in artistic cinema.

According to his wife’s recollections, he took the image very seriously: he set up the lighting, framed the shot, experimented with visual effects. At the same time, he called his works amateurish because he was worried that he did not receive professional director’s education.

His true dream was his own cinema. He wanted not just to capture what was happening, but to tell stories — through the frame, literature, music, and drawing.

Family, which became the main meaning of life

Maksym met his future wife Marina while working in the media field. They traveled together for shoots, participated in creative projects, and gradually became close.

Maksym and Marina had two children — daughter Sofia and son Adam. The family became the main center of his life. Relatives remember Maksym as a caring father and husband who did not divide household duties into “male” and “female”, took care of the children, cleaned, and washed clothes by hand when there was no washing machine in the rented apartment.

He learned to cook borscht, which the children called tastier than their mother’s. For some time, Maksym was practically a “stay-at-home dad”: he stayed home with the children while Marina worked.

The Shvartsman family dreamed of their own small house near Chernivtsi — with a garden and a place where the family could gather by the fire. Maksym loved to take the children to secluded places, which he called “thickets”, told them about the history of the region, nature, architecture, and old buildings.

At the beginning of 2014, the family lived for some time in Maksym’s native Kalanchak, Kherson region. Already then, Russian aggression against Ukraine entered their daily life: the occupied Crimea was nearby, and Marina later recalled how she looked out the window, fearing to see military equipment.

Creativity that Maksym did not want to leave

Maksym Shvartsman was not only a television operator and photographer. He wrote artistic prose and songs, painted, played the guitar, was interested in history and archaeology, came up with scripts, and dreamed of engaging in artistic cinema.

Even many colleagues, who knew him well as a talented operator, did not suspect for a long time that Maksym wrote stories and worked on a fantastic novella.

He took each frame seriously, set up the lighting, looked for unusual visual solutions, and wanted not just to capture events, but to tell stories. At the same time, Maksym remained very demanding of himself and often called his own works amateurish because he was worried that he did not receive professional director’s education.

Creativity was not a hobby for him that could be engaged in from time to time, but an important part of his personality. It was the inability to write, shoot, and develop in his favorite direction that later became one of the reasons why the family’s life in Israel did not work out.

End of 2014 — 2015: seven months in Israel

At the beginning of 2014, after the birth of their eldest daughter Sofia, Maksym and Marina Shvartsman moved from Chernivtsi to his native Kalanchak, Kherson region.

In Kalanchak, the family lived for about half a year. It was a time of Russian occupation of Crimea: Marina recalled that she went to the window and checked if military equipment appeared near the house.

Around the second half of 2014, the Shvartsman family returned to Chernivtsi. Maksym started working again, and soon Marina became pregnant with their son. Due to constant housing rentals and limited income, the family decided to use Maksym’s right to repatriation and try to start a new life in Israel.

The exact date of the move is not mentioned in the published interview. However, from the sequence of events, it follows that the family most likely arrived in Israel at the end of 2014 or the beginning of 2015.

In Israel, the Shvartsman family lived for about seven months. During this period, presumably in 2015, their son Adam was born. This dating is consistent with Marina’s later story: on September 1, 2022, Adam went to first grade, which allows us to date his birth to around 2015.

Which Israeli city the family chose is not specified in the available memories. It is only reliably known that Maksym rode his bicycle to work daily along a route that passed by the Mediterranean Sea.

To support his pregnant wife, and then his wife and newborn son, Maksym worked in a production workshop. For a person accustomed to journalism, filming, literature, and creative projects, monotonous physical work became a difficult test.

According to Marina’s recollections, Maksym once said: “I ride my bike past the Mediterranean Sea every day, but I can’t swim there.” It was not just about the lack of free time. This phrase conveyed his feeling of living next to beauty and freedom, which he could not enjoy due to constant work and financial pressure.

About seven months later, approximately in 2015, the family decided to return to Chernivtsi. After returning, Marina went to work, and Maksym, unable to immediately find a suitable place, stayed home with the children for some time and, as the family put it, became a “stay-at-home dad”.

Thus, the Israeli period in the life of the Shvartsman family can be dated approximately the end of 2014 — 2015. The exact dates of arrival and return, as well as the name of the city, Marina did not name in the published interview, so a more precise dating cannot be indicated without her direct confirmation.

For NAnews — News of Israel, the Israeli part of Maksym Shvartsman’s biography has special significance. His fate directly connects Israel, Jewish Chernivtsi, and Ukraine.

Maksym had the right to repatriation, his son was born in Israel, and the family itself gained experience living in the country. However, the home with which his work, creativity, public life, and subsequently military service were connected became Chernivtsi and Ukraine for him.

…

He supported his wife’s literary creativity as well. In 2022, Marina published her first novel “Christmas Count”. Maksym was already in service and could not attend the presentation, but his wife sent him a copy of the book. Later it was found among his most cherished belongings along with children’s drawings, documents, and chevrons.

February 24, 2022: the operator exchanged the camera for a weapon

Maksym’s native Kalanchak was among the first Ukrainian settlements captured by Russian troops in February 2022.

There remained his family home, childhood memories, and the graves of his mother and stepfather. The footage of Kalanchak’s occupation was a personal blow to him.

On February 24, 2022, Maksym decided to go to the military enlistment office and voluntarily joined the Chernivtsi territorial defense. Before that, he had no military experience, but he believed he could not stand aside.

A photographer and videographer, accustomed to holding a camera, took up arms to defend Ukraine.

At first, his unit was located in the Chernivtsi region. At Maksym’s request, his wife and children went to relatives in Poland, but after two months the family returned. Until the end of summer, he could sometimes come home, but in early September 2022, the 92nd battalion was sent to the Kharkiv region.

Maksym served as a shooter in the 92nd battalion of the 107th separate brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. His call sign was “Marvel”.

Initially, he performed combat missions in the Kharkiv direction, and then was transferred to the Donetsk region — one of the most difficult sections of the front.

For a long time, his wife did not even know his call sign. She accidentally saw the inscription Marvel on his uniform in one of the sent photos. Maksym himself tried not to tell his family the details of his service. During calls, he more often asked about the children, school, Marina’s work, and household matters than talked about what was happening at the front.

In Kharkiv, communication sometimes disappeared for periods ranging from three to ten days. Before going on a combat mission, Maksym usually only warned that he would not be able to write or call for some time.

Comrades remembered him as a person who did not look for excuses and did not refuse hard work. If it was necessary to dig positions, carry loads, or perform another task, he just went and did it.

When there was an opportunity to try to transfer to a safer position, Maksym refused to leave his unit. For him, it was a matter of responsibility to the people he served with and a matter of personal honor.

The last message and death near Bakhmut

The last message to his wife Maksym sent late in the evening on July 14, 2023. He warned Marina that the unit was moving to a new location and communication would probably be unavailable for one or two days.

The next day, July 15, 2023, a group of Ukrainian servicemen was performing a combat mission in the Bakhmut direction.

The unit took enemy positions but came under Russian artillery fire. Maksym Shvartsman was killed. He was 35 years old. Along with him, another serviceman was killed, and a third soldier was wounded.

In the first days, the family did not have complete information. Contradictory reports appeared, and Marina continued to hope that her husband might have survived.

Later, the unit reported that the bodies of the deceased were visible from a drone, but it was not possible to evacuate them immediately: the positions were temporarily occupied by Russian troops. After Ukrainian forces regained the territory, the bodies of the defenders were able to be retrieved.

Maksym was buried in the Alley of Glory at the Central Cemetery of Chernivtsi.

According to the Institute of Mass Information, Maksym Shvartsman became the 66th media worker killed as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Order “For Courage” and other awards

On November 16, 2023, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree posthumously awarding Maksym Shvartsman the Order “For Courage” III degree.

The decree noted the courage and selflessness shown in defending the state sovereignty of Ukraine, as well as Maksym’s contribution to the development of television, radio broadcasting, and communications. The public announcement of the state award to the family was made in July 2024.

Maksym was also awarded the medal “For the Liberation of Kharkiv Region”, the award “For Services to Bukovina”, the badge of the Chernivtsi City Council “For the Glory of Chernivtsi”, and other regional distinctions. Some awards were given posthumously.

However, for family and friends, the memory of Maksym is not limited to military uniform, call sign, and state awards.

Marina Shvartsman emphasizes: she wants her husband to be remembered primarily as a living, kind, and talented person — a father who walked with his children, a husband who dreamed of a house with a garden, an operator who saw the world through a frame, and a writer who did not live to see his own book.

What is included in the book “Not About War”

“Not About War” is not a military chronicle or a collection of works by different authors. It is a posthumously published author’s book by Maksym Shvartsman.

The confirmed composition of the printed edition includes:

• several artistic stories;
• an unfinished fantastic novella “Guardians of Continuity”;
• letters and messages to his wife Marina, written from the front line.

Before the full-scale invasion, Maksym was known in Chernivtsi primarily as an operator and photographer. His prose remained almost unknown. The Russian war did not give him the opportunity to realize himself as a writer and independently prepare his works for publication, so the book is compiled from the texts he managed to write during his lifetime.

In the fantastic novella “Guardians of Continuity”, Chernivtsi occupies an important place — a city that Maksym loved and considered his second home.

This is not a dry description of streets and buildings. In the novella, the city appears as a living, ironic, and almost fairy-tale space. Maksym wrote about it with good humor and attention to detail, combining his own love for history, architecture, and fantasy.

The work remained unfinished.

Marina decided not to finish it for her husband. Maksym did not talk about the concept of his works until he completed them, so it is impossible to reliably restore the supposed continuation or ending. His wife preserved the text as the author left it.

Letters in which there is almost no war

A special part of the book consists of Maksym’s letters to Marina.

Although they were written on the front line, they contain almost no descriptions of hostilities. Maksym tried to separate the war from family life and not transfer the frontline reality into conversations with his wife and children.

He wrote about love, cared for Marina, was interested in the children, joked, recalled ordinary life, and continued to think about the future.

One of the letters he began after his 35th birthday, addressing his wife as a person who writes to her for the first time at a new age. Another letter was prepared in case of his death. In it, Maksym explained how he would like to be buried, supported Marina, and convinced her that she is strong and can continue to live.

This letter especially fully reveals his character. Even thinking about his possible death, he worried not about himself, but about his wife and children.

Once from the front, Maksym sent Marina an artistic text and explained that it was “not about war”. This phrase became the key to the posthumous edition: the book was created against the backdrop of war and contains letters from the front line, but it tells primarily about life, love, family, Chernivtsi, creativity, and human dignity.

The book was preserved and prepared by Marina Shvartsman

The decisive role in the appearance of “Not About War” was played by Maksym’s wife.

Marina preserved his manuscripts, electronic files, letters, messages, drawings, paintings, script sketches, and unfinished prose. However, for a long time, she physically could not force herself to reread the texts left after her husband.

Only about a year after his death did Marina find the strength to return to the manuscripts and begin editing them.

As early as 2025, she talked about plans to prepare a book that could include stories, scripts, artistic works, an unfinished novella, and Maksym’s letters. The final, publicly confirmed composition of the printed edition included stories, the novella “Guardians of Continuity”, and frontline letters. Organizers have not yet reported separately on the publication of scripts and paintings in the current edition.

For Marina, publishing the book is the fulfillment of a dream that Maksym did not have time to realize himself.

But it is also an attempt to return to readers the real Maksym Shvartsman — not only a soldier with the call sign “Marvel”, who died near Bakhmut, but a person who loved children, cooked borscht, made films, was interested in archaeology, drew, played the guitar, wrote stories, and dreamed of a house with a garden.

Memory as the responsibility of the living

For the Jewish community of Chernivtsi, the presentation of “Not About War” will be not only a literary event.

It is an evening of remembrance for a representative of Ukrainian Jewry, who had the right to repatriation, lived with his family in Israel, raised a son born there, but after the start of the full-scale invasion voluntarily stood up to defend Ukraine.

His story shows that resistance to Russian aggression united Ukrainians of different nationalities, cultures, and religious traditions.

NAnews — News of Israel tells the story of Maksym Shvartsman precisely because it is part of the shared Israeli-Ukrainian memory. It combines Jewish origin, Israel, Chernivtsi, occupied Kalanchak, Ukrainian culture, and the struggle for Ukraine’s freedom.

In Jewish tradition, the memory of the deceased is not only a recollection of the past but also the responsibility of those who continue to live.

After the name of the departed person, it is said: זכרונו לברכה — “May his memory be blessed”.

Maksym Shvartsman continues to live in his children, in preserved frames, drawings, letters, and the book, the appearance of which became possible thanks to the love and strength of his wife.

The war was able to cut short his life.

But it could not silence his voice.

May the memory of Maksym Shvartsman be blessed.

A cemetery where history stands not in rows, but in wounds

The Jewish cemetery in Berdychiv is not just an old necropolis on the map of Ukraine. It is a place where the stones look as if the earth has been trying for many years to push out a memory that cannot be completely buried.

Here the matzevot stand unevenly, tilt, fall sideways, disappear into the grass, as if each stone has its own final pose. Some tombstones resemble heavy stone ‘boots’—such a shape can indeed be found in old Jewish burials. There are almost no images on them. Only letters, a dense weave of square Hebrew script, names, dates, blessings, traces of families that have long been absent from the living city conversation.

Sometimes you can see a short Cyrillic inscription on the stone: ‘Kloizner’, ‘Danzig’. For a casual passerby, these are just surnames. For descendants, a possible thread to a family that once lived, prayed, traded, argued, married, buried children and the elderly in a city that was called one of the symbols of Jewish life in Eastern Europe.

Berdychiv was not an ordinary Jewish shtetl. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were synagogues, prayer houses, schools, a hospital, an orphanage, libraries; the city remained a major Jewish center of Volhynia and Right-Bank Ukraine. According to ESJF, in 1907 the community maintained 6 synagogues and 72 prayer houses.

Why Berdychiv was called a Jewish city

The history of Jewish Berdychiv begins long before the catastrophe of the 20th century. The first mentions of the Jewish community of the city date back to the 16th century, and over time Berdychiv became one of the main centers of Jewish trade, Hasidic culture, and religious life in the region.

Not only local residents were buried here. Merchants who came to fairs, rabbis, tzaddiks, and people from smaller Jewish communities in the eastern part of the then Volhynia province found their final rest in the old cemetery. The most famous burial is associated with Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdychiv, who died in 1809—his ohel remains a place of pilgrimage to this day.

That is why the cemetery in Berdychiv is perceived not as a local landmark, but as a fragment of a large Jewish map. For Israel, this is also not a foreign story: many families living in Israel today have roots that pass through Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region, Podolia, Volhynia, Kyiv, Odessa, Chernivtsi, Galicia.

Memory here is not museum-like. It is familial.

From matzevot to ghetto: how the city of memory became a city of disappearance

In the cemetery, the gap between those who were buried according to Jewish rites and those who disappeared without a grave is especially acute. This is the terrible line of Berdychiv: some received a stone, a name, and a place, others—only emptiness in family memory.

During the German occupation, Berdychiv became one of the places of mass extermination of Jews. The ghetto was created in the summer of 1941, and mass shootings took place in September. Yad Vashem indicates that on September 15, 1941, about 12,000 remaining Jews of Berdychiv were rounded up and destroyed with the participation of German units and local auxiliary police.

It was not a single tragic scene. It was a process of destroying an entire world.

In the Berdychiv area and near the village of Khazhin, there were places of mass shootings. The memorial project Connecting Memory writes that from mid-August 1941, the area near Khazhin was repeatedly used for the killing of Jews; only on September 4, 1941, 1,303 Jews from Berdychiv were shot there, and according to the Soviet Extraordinary State Commission, by the end of 1943, 10,656 people were killed there.

Why the absence of a grave is sometimes scarier than death

Jewish tradition attaches great importance to the memory of the name and the burial place. A grave is not just a stone. It is an opportunity to come, read, place a pebble, say Kaddish, explain to a child: ‘here is our person.’

When a person disappears in a ghetto, in a shooting pit, in a nameless list or without a list at all, the family loses not only a relative. It loses a point of return.

That is why the old matzevot of Berdychiv look so painful. They stand not only for those whose names are engraved on the stone but also for those who did not even receive this. In such a place, personal genealogy, Holocaust history, and Jewish memory cease to be different topics.

In the middle of this story, it is important to talk not only about Ukraine’s past but also about today’s Israeli memory. For readers of Nikk.Agency—Israel News | Nikk.Agency Berdychiv is not a distant point on the map of the Zhytomyr region, but part of a large family route: from the shtetls of Eastern Europe to Israel, from the language of ancestors to modern Hebrew, from lost archives to an attempt to restore at least names.

What remains today: cemetery, pilgrimage, and the duty of memory

It is estimated that the Berdychiv Jewish cemetery once had more than 10,000 burials, but only part of the tombstones have survived. One of the specialized resources indicates that out of a huge number of graves, about 550 matzevot remain, representing historical value and showing different stages of Jewish burial culture.

This is an important detail: the cemetery is not just ‘old.’ It is damaged by time, wars, Soviet indifference, destruction, oblivion, and partial restoration. Each preserved stone here works as a document, although it is not written on paper.

Berdychiv as a warning for the 21st century

Today, when Ukraine is once again living in conditions of war, the history of Berdychiv sounds especially harsh. Because Jewish cemeteries, places of shootings, synagogues, old houses, and family archives on Ukrainian soil are not abstract heritage. It is a memory that has once again found itself near the front, rockets, occupation, destruction of cities, and attempts to erase Ukrainian identity.

For Israel, this plot is also not external.

It reminds that the Jewish history of Eastern Europe did not end with emigration. It remained in stones, surnames, photographs, the silence of older relatives, in accidentally found documents, and in those places where descendants come already from Jerusalem, Haifa, Be’er Sheva, Tel Aviv, or Ashdod.

The Berdychiv cemetery speaks quietly but very accurately: a people exist not only where they have a state, an army, and a parliament. A people also exist where someone, decades later, searches for a surname on a tilted stone.

Why this story is not only about death

You can look at these matzevot as a symbol of loss. But that will not be the whole truth.

They also speak of the life that was before the catastrophe. Of a city where Jewish culture was not an appendix to someone else’s history, but one of the main forces of urban life. Of families who built houses, educated children, argued about politics, went to fairs, observed traditions or deviated from them, believed, doubted, fell in love, grew old.

That is why such cemeteries cannot be perceived only as ‘places of mourning.’ They are also an archive of dignity.

The toppled cemetery stones, resembling a herd of frozen sea creatures, are a very accurate image. Because these stones indeed seem to be stopped in motion. They are not completely dead. They continue to speak as long as someone comes, reads, photographs, translates, searches, remembers.

And so, the story of Berdychiv is not yet closed.

It continues in descendants who try to understand where their relatives lay. In researchers who restore the names of the murdered. In pilgrims coming to the grave of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak. In Ukrainians who preserve Jewish heritage as part of their own history. And in Israelis, for whom such places remain roots, even if these roots have grown through pain.

Ukrainian long-range strikes have for the first time so clearly linked Russia’s war against Ukraine with the confrontation around Iran and American military facilities in the Middle East. Kyiv reported an attack on a Russian warship and vessels used to transport Iran-related military cargo in the Caspian Sea. Almost simultaneously, Tehran announced that an Iranian commercial vessel was damaged, one crew member was killed, and another was injured.

Against this backdrop, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Ukrainian intelligence data indicating that Russia is conducting satellite surveillance of American military facilities and Gulf countries, after which the relevant images are transmitted to Iran for preparation and adjustment of strikes.

The events show that Russian-Iranian military cooperation is no longer limited to the supply of Shahed drones for strikes on Ukraine. According to Kyiv, Moscow is now helping Tehran with reconnaissance information in the Middle East, and Ukraine, in turn, has begun striking sea routes linking Russia and Iran.

What happened in the Caspian Sea on July 25, 2026

On Saturday, July 25, 2026, Volodymyr Zelensky reported on successful operations by Ukrainian forces in the Caspian region.

According to him, vessels used to transport military cargo related to Iran, as well as a Russian warship, were hit. The President of Ukraine did not disclose all operational details but hinted that this is a continuation of Ukraine’s strategy of so-called ‘long-range sanctions’ — strikes on facilities serving the Russian military industry, energy exports, and international military logistics.

Ukrainian sources also reported attacks on two Russian vessels — ‘Port Olya-2’ and ‘Begey’. Kyiv claims these ships were involved in transporting military cargo along the Caspian route between Russia and Iran.

In addition, there were reports of a strike on Russian oil and gas infrastructure in the Caspian Sea, including the Vladimir Filanovsky field platform operated by Lukoil. Previously, Ukraine had already struck Caspian oil facilities, viewing oil and gas export revenues as one of the sources of financing Russian aggression.

As of the time of publication, Russia has not provided a detailed official report on the consequences of the attacks and has not confirmed the Ukrainian version regarding the nature of the cargo on the ships.

Iran announced an attack on its commercial vessel

The Iranian Foreign Ministry reported that early in the morning of July 25, 2026, a Ukrainian attack led to an explosion on board an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea.

According to Tehran’s official statement:

• one crew member was killed;
• another person was injured;
• the vessel was damaged as a result of the explosion;
• Iran attributed responsibility for the attack to Ukraine.

The Iranian foreign ministry called the incident a ‘hostile and criminal act’ and also stated that it violated Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and political independence of states.

Tehran claims that the strike could ‘further ignite and expand the flames of war’ and declared the right to defend its national interests and security. The Ukrainian chargé d’affaires was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, where an official protest was delivered.

However, Iran did not name the vessel allegedly damaged, did not disclose the nature of the cargo being transported, and did not report the exact location of the incident.

It is unclear whether it is the same ship

There remains a significant discrepancy between the statements of Ukraine and Iran.

Kyiv speaks of strikes on Russian ships and a Russian warship involved in transporting Iran-related military cargo. Tehran, in turn, claims that an Iranian commercial vessel was attacked.

It has not yet been independently established:

• whether the damaged Iranian vessel was one of the targets named by Ukraine;
• whether there were several separate attacks;
• under which flag the ship was sailing;
• who owned it;
• what cargo it was carrying;
• whether there was military equipment on board;
• where exactly the explosion occurred;
• what means of attack Ukraine used.

Therefore, claims about the ownership of the vessel and the nature of the cargo should be considered as statements by the parties, rather than a fully confirmed picture of the incident.

Why the Caspian route is so important for Russia and Iran

The Caspian Sea has become one of the key transport corridors between Russia and Iran. This route allows cargo to be transported directly between the ports of the two states, bypassing sea routes controlled by Western countries.

The Russian port of Olya in the Astrakhan region is of particular importance. Part of the cargo heading from Iran to Russia and back can pass through it.

Ukraine believes that this route is used to transport:

• drone components;
• ammunition;
• military systems and parts;
• dual-use equipment;
• components for weapons production;
• other cargo related to Russian-Iranian military cooperation.

On December 12, 2025, Ukraine reported a strike on two Russian ships, which, according to Kyiv, were transporting military equipment in the Caspian Sea. At that time, the first Ukrainian strike on a Russian oil platform in the region was also reported.

In March 2026, the Caspian Sea had already become the scene of attacks on cargo traveling between Russia and Iran. It was reported that Russia was trying to avoid open air deliveries to Iran and was increasingly using the sea corridor.

Zelensky announced the transfer of Russian satellite data to Iran

On the same day, July 25, 2026, Volodymyr Zelensky reported on another aspect of Russian-Iranian interaction.

According to him, Ukrainian intelligence has established that Russia is transferring satellite images of Gulf states and American military facilities in the Middle East to Iran.

‘Since the beginning of July, we have been recording active Russian satellite surveillance of Gulf states and American military facilities located there. These images then end up with Iran,’ Zelensky said.

The President of Ukraine claims that there is a clear connection between Russian surveillance and subsequent Iranian attacks. This involves both photographing objects before strikes, which can help in target selection and guidance, and post-attack observation to assess the damage caused.

According to Zelensky, on July 19 and 20, 2026, Russian satellites monitored at least four airbases:

• two facilities in Bahrain;
• one airbase in Jordan;
• one airbase in Kuwait.

Zelensky stated that the relevant data would be passed on to the United States and other partners of Ukraine.

Why satellite reconnaissance can be crucial

Satellite images allow tracking the location of aircraft, air defense systems, warehouses, runways, temporary structures, and other military infrastructure.

Regular imaging of the same object can show:

• aircraft movement;
• changes in base operations;
• deployment of air defense systems;
• the appearance of new warehouses or equipment;
• preparation for a military operation;
• the consequences of a missile or drone strike.

Transferring such information to Iran, if Ukrainian data is confirmed, could mean direct reconnaissance assistance to Tehran from Russia.

However, Ukraine has not yet presented public evidence that can be independently examined. Zelensky refers to intelligence information that Kyiv intends to pass on to partners.

How the US reacts to Kyiv’s statements

According to American media, US intelligence agencies are studying the issue of possible Russian assistance to Iran in preparing strikes on American facilities in the region.

Particular attention was drawn to the accuracy of some Iranian attacks. Washington is checking whether Tehran could have received:

• satellite images;
• target coordinates;
• electronic intelligence data;
• information for strike adjustments;
• assistance in assessing the consequences of attacks.

However, as of the time of publication, US authorities have not publicly confirmed that Russia indeed provided Iran with specific data for strikes.

US President Donald Trump previously stated that he sees no evidence of direct Russian or Chinese involvement in Iranian operations. According to him, the leadership of both countries assured Washington of their non-involvement.

Thus, the positions of Kyiv and the White House currently differ. Ukraine speaks of systematic Russian reconnaissance assistance, while the American administration has not publicly confirmed the existence of conclusive evidence.

Ukraine offers the Middle East experience in combating Iranian drones

Kyiv links its confrontation with Iran to the long-term use of Shahed drones by Russia against Ukrainian cities.

Iran has long denied supplying drones to Russia for the war against Ukraine. Later, Tehran acknowledged the transfer of a limited number of drones but claimed it happened before the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.

Ukraine and Western countries believe that Iran provided Russia not only with ready-made drones but also with technologies, components, and production solutions that allowed Moscow to launch serial production of Shahed analogs called ‘Geran’.

After several years of repelling massive attacks, Ukraine has accumulated significant experience in detecting and intercepting Iranian drones.

Zelensky previously stated that 11 Middle Eastern countries had approached Ukraine for consultations and assistance in countering Iranian drones.

Kyiv declared its readiness to provide:

• Ukrainian interceptor drones;
• air defense specialists;
• instructors;
• detection systems;
• electronic warfare technologies;
• practical experience in protecting cities and military facilities.

According to media reports, Ukrainian specialists could participate in the protection of American infrastructure in Jordan. However, Donald Trump later stated that American military personnel do not need Ukrainian assistance in this area.

An Iranian parliamentarian previously called Ukraine a ‘legitimate target’

Tensions between Kyiv and Tehran did not arise on July 25. On March 15, 2026, the chairman of the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission, Ebrahim Azizi, made threats against Ukraine.

He stated that Ukraine allegedly helps Israel with the use of drones and thus ‘actually participates in the war.’

‘By supporting the Israeli regime with drones, the failing Ukraine is actually participating in the war. According to Article 51 of the UN Charter, its entire territory has become a legitimate target for Iran,’ Azizi wrote.

This statement was made more than four months before the attack in the Caspian Sea and was related to reports of possible Ukrainian assistance to Israel and the US in combating Iranian drones.

Ukraine then reminded that it was Iran that supplied Russia with drones and technologies used for strikes on Ukrainian residential buildings, power plants, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure.

Does Article 51 make all of Ukraine a ‘legitimate target’

Ebrahim Azizi’s reference to Article 51 of the UN Charter does not mean that Iran gains the right to attack any point in Ukraine.

Article 51 indeed recognizes the right of states to individual or collective self-defense in the event of an armed attack. However, international humanitarian law continues to apply even during war.

It requires distinguishing:

• military and civilian objects;
• military personnel and the civilian population;
• legitimate military targets and infrastructure not involved in hostilities.

Therefore, the statement that the ‘entire territory’ of a state becomes a legitimate target does not comply with the basic principles of international law. Even the right to self-defense does not permit indiscriminate attacks and strikes on the civilian population.

Iran’s position contains an obvious contradiction

After the attack in the Caspian Sea, Iran’s Foreign Ministry again stated that the Islamic Republic allegedly does not interfere in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

However, at the same time Tehran:

• transferred drones to Russia;
• provided Shahed production technology;
• developed military cooperation with Moscow;
• threatened Ukraine with strikes;
• called Ukrainian territory a ‘legitimate target’;
• opposed Ukrainian assistance to states attacked by Iran.

NANews — Israel News notes that this position appears contradictory. Tehran demands that Iranian ships be perceived as exclusively civilian objects, yet does not disclose the nature of the cargo transported on the Russia-Iran route and denies the significance of its own involvement in supplying the Russian military machine.

Possible response from Iran

After the strike on July 25, Iranian officials and media associated with the authorities spoke about a possible response to Ukraine.

Publications in pro-government resources reminded of the range of Iranian ballistic missiles and stated that Ukrainian territory is within their reach.

Some Iranian commentators mentioned the Khorramshahr-4 missile, whose range, according to Iranian statements, can reach about two thousand kilometers. However, to strike targets over a significant part of Ukraine’s territory, Iran would need to launch missiles from its own territory or use the territory of an allied state.

Tehran has not announced an official decision to strike Ukraine. Threats in the Iranian media should still be considered as an element of political and informational pressure.

Why this story is important for Israel

For Israel, the developments have direct significance.

For several years, Ukraine has been studying Iranian drones in real combat conditions. Its specialists have information about the Shahed’s design, flight routes, control system vulnerabilities, and interception methods.

Such experience can be useful to Israel and other countries in the region in repelling attacks from Iran and related groups.

At the same time, the possible transfer of Russian satellite data to Tehran means that the military partnership between Russia and Iran could be used not only against Ukraine but also against Israel, the USA, and the Gulf states.

Russian satellites are capable of observing Israeli airbases, seaports, energy facilities, and military infrastructure. If the information is indeed being transferred to Iran, it creates an additional threat to the entire region.

Chronology of main events

December 12, 2025 — Ukraine reports strikes on Russian ships and an oil platform in the Caspian Sea.

March 15, 2026 — Ibrahim Azizi states that due to assistance to Israel, Ukraine’s territory has allegedly become a ‘legitimate target’ for Iran.

March 19, 2026 — reports emerge of an attack on a Caspian convoy transporting military cargo between Russia and Iran.

From early July 2026 — according to Zelensky, Russia is actively observing Gulf countries and American facilities via satellites.

July 19–20, 2026 — Russian satellites, according to the Ukrainian version, are monitoring four airbases in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait.

Early morning of July 25 — an explosion occurs on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea. Iran reports the death of one sailor and the injury of another.

July 25 — Ukraine confirms strikes on a Russian warship and ships transporting Iran-related military cargo.

July 25 — Tehran summons the Ukrainian chargé d’affaires and delivers a protest.

July 25 — Zelensky reports the possible transfer of Russian satellite intelligence to Iran.

July 25–26 — Iranian officials and pro-government media discuss a possible response to Ukraine.

The Caspian Sea becomes part of a larger war

Strikes in the Caspian Sea show that Ukraine’s strategy is changing. Previously, the main targets were Russian airfields, military factories, oil refineries, and depots, but now Ukraine is consistently expanding operations to international supply routes of Russia.

The Caspian corridor is of particular importance as it connects Russia with Iran — a state that helped Moscow establish the mass use of strike drones against Ukraine.

At the same time, Russian-Iranian cooperation, according to Kyiv, goes far beyond the Ukrainian front. Russia may provide Iran with reconnaissance capabilities for actions against the USA and its allies in the Middle East.

NANews — Israel News emphasizes: it remains unknown which ship was damaged on July 25, to whom it belonged, and what cargo was on board. However, the political significance of what happened is already evident.

Ukraine has demonstrated that it considers the maritime logistics of Russia and Iran as part of military infrastructure. Tehran reported a human casualty for the first time as a result of a direct Ukrainian attack. And Zelensky’s statements about Russian satellite assistance to Iran link the war against Ukraine with a broader confrontation involving Israel, the USA, and the Gulf states.

Events in the Caspian Sea may mark the beginning of a new phase, where Russian-Iranian military routes will be subject to regular attacks, and relations between Kyiv and Tehran will finally shift from diplomatic tension to direct military confrontation.

 

A large-scale fire occurred in the religious and pilgrimage complex near the burial site of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi — the Alter Rebbe, founder of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement and author of the book “Tanya,” in the city of Hadiach, Poltava region.

The fire started on Friday, July 24, 2026, at 11:36 PM, just a few dozen minutes before midnight. The fire engulfed the central building of the complex, which housed the main synagogue, kitchen, dining rooms, and accommodations for pilgrims. The fire continued into the night of Saturday, July 25, which according to the Jewish calendar corresponded to 11 Av 5786.

According to preliminary estimates by Chabad representatives, the material damage could amount to millions of dollars. This is not yet the final amount confirmed by a state examination, but the first estimate by the complex administration after inspecting the damage.

Previously we wrote:

Where did Ukraine get ≈17 million dollars for the repair of the “road to the grave of Shneur Zalman of Liadi (founder of Chabad)”: what is written in Israel and what documents show in Ukraine.

A “Cohen Bridge” was built in Ukraine for $1,000,000: in Hadiach, the Chabad shrine was made accessible to the descendants of ancient priests — what is it and for what purpose?

The central building is almost destroyed

The main building of the pilgrimage complex, also known as “Rabbeinu HaGadol” and the “Admor HaZaken” center, suffered the most serious damage.

The central part of the complex was almost completely destroyed by fire. The main synagogue burned down, significant damage was done to the professional kitchen, dining rooms, and facilities intended for accommodating and serving guests.

The fire destroyed the synagogue and heavily damaged the kitchen and guest infrastructure. Published footage after the fire shows that the roof of the central building collapsed, and the interior was burned out.

Official Ukrainian reports still use more cautious wording. According to the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Poltava region, the roof and walls of the religious organization’s building were seriously damaged. This difference in descriptions is explained by the fact that rescuers published operational information, while community representatives were later able to assess the condition of the interior.

People evacuated themselves and saved valuables

People who were in the synagogue at the time the fire started left the building on their own before the fire completely engulfed the central premises.

Some of them, along with local staff, managed to carry out religious valuables. Chabad representatives reported that several Torah scrolls were saved. The exact number of scrolls, books, and other items carried out has not yet been publicly disclosed.

According to available information, there are no dead or injured. Rabbi Shneur Zalman Deutsch, representing Chabad in Hadiach and responsible for the complex’s operations, as well as his wife and children, are safe. Ynet clarifies that the rabbi himself was not in the city at the time of the fire.

NANews — Israel News notes that the absence of casualties was the main positive outcome of the incident, considering the speed of the fire’s spread and the scale of the destruction of the central building.

What is known about the cause of the fire

A preliminary version is being considered that the fire could have started due to a short circuit or other electrical network malfunction.

However, the official cause of the fire has not yet been established. Specialists continue to inspect the damaged premises, and the investigation is considering all possible versions.

At the time of preparing the material, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and the SES had not published a final expert conclusion. There is also no confirmed data on arson, anti-Semitic attack, or the impact of a Russian munition.

Therefore, claims of deliberate destruction of the complex or military attack currently have no official confirmation. The main working version remains a technical malfunction, but final conclusions should be made by fire-technical experts.

The available reports also do not yet specify the exact number of firefighters, the number of equipment units, and the time of complete fire extinguishment. It is known that eyewitnesses called rescuers shortly after the fire was discovered, and by July 25 the fire was extinguished.

Was the grave of the Alter Rebbe affected

It is necessary to clarify separately that the fire occurred in the central prayer and guest building located near the burial site of Rabbi Shneur Zalman.

In the published official and community reports, there is no information yet that the fire damaged the ohel itself — the structure directly above the grave of the Alter Rebbe. There is also no confirmation of the destruction of the burial itself.

Therefore, statements that the “grave of the founder of Chabad” burned in Hadiach are inaccurate. The destruction of the main synagogue and serious damage to the infrastructure of the pilgrimage complex near the grave has been confirmed.

What was in the complex

The Jewish religious community “Alter Rebbe” and the center of Hasidism “Admor HaZaken” are located on the outskirts of Hadiach, in the Poltava region. The complex was built with funds from benefactors and patrons from different countries around the world.

Before the fire, it housed:

• a large central synagogue;
• a library of religious literature;
• a mikvah;
• a professional kitchen;
• spacious dining rooms;
• dozens of rooms for pilgrims;
• separate residential and auxiliary buildings;
• premises for prayers, classes, and commemorative events.

The Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine indicates that the main task of the center was to provide thousands of pilgrims with housing, food, and everything necessary during their visit to the ohel of the Alter Rebbe.

The construction of the modern complex began almost two decades ago. The main building was completed in 2013, during events dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the passing of the Alter Rebbe. After that, the center continued to expand and develop.

Rabbi Shneur Deutsch manages the complex throughout the year, receives pilgrims, and provides assistance to Jewish communities in the Poltava region, where hundreds of Jews live.

Why Hadiach holds special significance for Jews

Shneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the Alter Rebbe and Baal HaTanya, was born in 1745 in Liozna, in present-day Belarus. He became the founder of the intellectual direction of Chabad Hasidism and wrote “Tanya” — one of the most important books in the Chabad tradition.

In 1812, during the war of the Russian Empire with Napoleon, the Alter Rebbe left Liadi. During the journey, he fell ill and died on December 26, 1812. His body was brought to Hadiach, Poltava province, where he was buried in the local Jewish cemetery.

Over subsequent generations, the grave of the Alter Rebbe remained a place of prayer and pilgrimage.

During the Holocaust, the Jewish community of Hadiach was almost completely destroyed. In the Soviet period, believers’ access to religious sites was severely restricted.

In the late 1980s, by order of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, special emissaries began visiting and restoring the burial sites of Chabad leaders in the Soviet Union. In 1987–1990, Rabbi David Nachshon participated in these works, in particular.

After the collapse of the USSR, the area near the grave of the Alter Rebbe began to turn into a major international religious center.

About 10,000 visitors annually even during the war

Before the full-scale Russian aggression, the complex in Hadiach was visited annually by tens of thousands of people.

Even during the war, about 10,000 pilgrims a year continue to visit the grave of the Alter Rebbe. About a third of them visit Hadiach in connection with the yahrzeit of the Alter Rebbe — the anniversary of his passing, observed on 24 Tevet, usually in December or January.

At other times, organized groups of Ukrainian Jews, community representatives from different regions of Ukraine, as well as pilgrims from Israel, Europe, and the United States, arrive in Hadiach.

Due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace, many foreign visitors fly to Chisinau and then continue their journey to Hadiach by car. Such a trip can take from 12 to 15 hours.

Israeli sources call the complex near the grave of the Alter Rebbe the second largest place of Jewish pilgrimage and prayer in Ukraine after Uman.

The complex is planned to be restored

Rabbi Shneur Deutsch stated that the complex’s staff is in shock. According to him, the central building, into which years of work were invested, has practically turned to ashes.

Despite the scale of the destruction, the rabbi confirmed the intention to fully restore the complex. He acknowledged that the work would require significant resources and time but expressed confidence that Jewish communities and Chabad followers worldwide would join in the restoration.

The chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, Rabbi Meir Stambler, reported that the organization is awaiting the final results of the investigation and is maintaining contact with Ukrainian authorities.

The Federation is preparing to provide new religious books, sacred texts, and items necessary for restoring the complex’s prayer life. The final amount of damage, reconstruction budget, and start dates for construction work have not yet been announced.

There has already been a fire in the Jewish center in Hadiach

The current incident is not the first fire on the territory of the Jewish religious center in Hadiach.

On March 21, 2017, an auxiliary room of the Charitable Cultural and Religious Center, owned by the Federation of Jewish Religious Communities of Ukraine, caught fire.

At that time, firefighters extinguished the fire in about 40 minutes and managed to save the main building. The fire destroyed about 60 square meters of foam. The main version was a spark from welding work hitting the insulation.

The 2026 fire turned out to be incomparably more destructive: the main synagogue was destroyed, the central building almost completely burned out, and the damage is preliminarily estimated at millions of dollars.

What questions remain unanswered

The investigation and the complex’s management still need to establish:

• the exact technical cause of the fire;
• the final amount of material damage;
• a complete list of destroyed religious books and items;
• the condition of individual structures near the grave;
• the scope of work required for reconstruction;
• the timeline for restoring the synagogue, kitchen, and guest facilities.

NANews — Israel News will continue to monitor the situation. At the moment, the main confirmed fact is that in one of the largest fires in the complex’s history, no one died or was injured, and pilgrims and staff managed to save several Torah scrolls.

However, restoring one of Chabad’s most important centers in Ukraine will require significant international support and will likely take a considerable amount of time.

In October 2025, the documentary film “Second Wind” by director Maria Kondakova was released in Ukraine — a story about people who have gone through war, loss, and rehabilitation but have not lost the ability to dream. The film tells the story of five Ukrainian defenders who climbed to the summit of Kilimanjaro — despite amputations, prosthetics, and chronic pain.

Film about overcoming and returning to life

The project was initiated by Gennady Gazin — a Jewish-Ukrainian-American businessman and philanthropist, founder of the fund “If Not Now Then When”. He served as the idea author, producer, and financier of the film.

“This project is a natural continuation of my interests. Love for the mountains has become an important part of life, and I am glad to combine mountaineering with charitable initiatives. The experience of challenging climbs and dangerous situations has made me appreciate every moment even more and support those who bravely defend their land,” noted Gennady Gazin.

According to Gennady Gazin, the idea for the film was born in Israel. It was there that he saw a soldier with a prosthetic who, despite the amputation, lived an active, full life. This moment became the starting point for the idea to show the strength, dignity, and ability of Ukrainian veterans to overcome. This is mentioned in a review by the publication “Ukrainian Truth. Culture”, which notes that it was in Israel that the idea for the film and the eponymous veteran movement arose.

Alexander Pedan, a well-known TV presenter and athlete, became the host and co-producer of the film.

“This project became personal for me. Mountaineering always teaches respect for life and gratitude for the opportunity to move forward. I am glad that I could combine this experience with a cause that has meaning,” says Pedan.

Cinematographer — Sergey Mikhalsky, a recognized master of Ukrainian cinema, whose works “Dovbush”, “The Guide”, and “Mamay” have been noted at international festivals. His visual solution gave the film depth and expressiveness — each frame conveys real effort, breath, step, light, and shadow on the faces of the heroes.

Filming took place in Ukraine and Tanzania. The crew worked at an altitude of over five thousand meters with sharp temperature fluctuations — from heat to night frosts. The film was shot without staged scenes: the camera captures the real steps of the participants, their fatigue, pain, jokes, and joy, at times becoming a participant in the climb.

“Ukrainian defenders and a defender climbed Kilimanjaro to show other servicemen who have experienced injuries or amputations that life does not lose its meaning after this. After an injury, it changes, but you can still live fully, engage in sports, and even conquer peaks,” says the project description.

Heroes of the film: what was found out from open sources

The film “Second Wind” features five Ukrainian defenders who, after injuries and amputations, climbed Kilimanjaro. Here’s what was established about them based on public sources:

Names and general information

Project participants (according to reviews and press materials) —
Roman “Dobryak” Kolesnik, Vladislav “Shatya” Shatilo, Mikhail “Grizzly” Matviev, Alexander “Ragnar” Mikhov, and Olga “Height” Yegorova.

The review in UP.Culture states that four out of five men have lower limb amputations and use prosthetics.

Roman “Dobryak” Kolesnik

• Veteran of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade (3 OShBr).
• Injured in May 2022, leg amputation.
• Completed a series of climbs in the Carpathians — Petros, Hoverla, Nesamovyte, Shpytsi.
• Covered more than 50 km with a 20 kg backpack on a prosthetic.
• Raised 1,000,000 UAH for the needs of the Armed Forces units.
  (RBC-Ukraine, NV Life, Life.Pravda.com.ua).

Olga “Height” Yegorova

• Servicewoman who received a wound during combat operations.
• The only woman among the film’s participants.
• Some publications mention a possible connection with Surma Team (not officially confirmed).
  (UNIAN, Ukr.net, Rubryka).

Vladislav “Shatya” Shatilo

• Veteran with a lower limb amputation.
• One of four men climbing on a prosthetic.
  (UP.Culture, Interfax-Ukraine).

Mikhail “Grizzly” Matviev

• Combat veteran.
• Has a lower limb amputation.
  (Interfax-Ukraine, Cinema.in.ua).

Alexander “Ragnar” Mikhov

• Special forces unit fighter.
• One of the participants who climbed Kilimanjaro with a prosthetic.
  (Rubryka, UNIAN).

How the idea for the film was born

The plot of the film grew out of Gennady Gazin’s personal initiative.

“Then Gazin, an American of Ukrainian-Jewish descent, feeling the war of his two peoples against terror, came up with a veteran movement and a way to promote it — creating a film of the same name, and then a support fund ‘If Not Now Then When’,” notes the review in UP.Culture.

Gazin proposed the script basis: veterans with amputations storm the mountain, proving that physical limitations do not set limits on human capabilities.

To realize the idea, he invited Maria Kondakova, whose previous documentary film “My War” (2020) told about women on the front line and was noted by critics for its sincerity and accuracy of observation.

The team decided to focus on real stories, without actors, without staging, and without pathos.
The result is an honest and powerful film in which each hero speaks in their own voice, and the camera does not hide weakness or pain.

Perception

The film “Second Wind” received positive reviews from film critics and viewers.
Reviewers from UP.Culture call it a “story of overcoming, rehabilitation, and inner rebirth”, noting that “the strength visualized in the dynamics of light and sound is understandable to every viewer, regardless of language and citizenship.”

The film became not just a cinematic work but part of a humanitarian project that combines culture, volunteering, and psychological support for veterans.

Gennady Gazin: biography and international activities

Gennady Gazin was born in Zhitomir, in a Jewish family. As a child, he emigrated with his parents to the USA.
Education: Cornell University (engineering), Stanford (master’s), Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA).

Professional path:

• Engineer at Bell Communications Research and General Dynamics;
• Partner at McKinsey & Company, head of the technology and telecommunications practice;
• CEO of EastOne Group (2007–2012);
• Chairman of the Supervisory Board of “Kyivstar” (since 2022).

In recent years, Gazin is primarily known as a philanthropist and public figure.
He heads the Genesis Philanthropy Group (GPG) — an international fund supporting Jewish educational and cultural initiatives in Israel, the USA, and Europe.

Under his leadership, GPG funds programs:

• Yad Vashem (the national Holocaust memorial),
• Jewish Agency for Israel,
• Taglit–Birthright Israel,
• JDC (Joint Distribution Committee),
• Cultural and youth projects of the Jewish diaspora.

Gazin is a member of the planning committee of Taglit–Birthright Israel, regularly participates in events in the Knesset, at forums in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
He is known as a supporter of bringing Ukrainian and Israeli societies closer through education, culture, and humanitarian initiatives.

Fund “If Not Now Then When” and connection with Israel

The fund If Not Now Then When was created before the film’s release as a humanitarian and cultural platform to help Ukraine.
It implements programs in the fields of medicine, psychological rehabilitation, and veteran support.

Main areas of work:

• Providing hospitals and military units with first aid kits, equipment, and transport;
• Assistance in rehabilitating servicemen with amputations;
• Cooperation with Israeli organizations, adopting experience in working with veterans;
• Cultural initiatives aimed at strengthening humanistic values.

One of the fund’s projects was supporting the Ukrainian premiere of the film “Golda”, dedicated to Golda Meir, a native of Kyiv and Prime Minister of Israel.
The screening was held in conjunction with the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine and the Babi Yar Memorial Center, symbolizing the cultural unification of the two countries.

The source of inspiration for the fund was precisely Israel. Gazin emphasizes that the Israeli system of social integration of veterans is one of the best in the world:
society perceives wounded soldiers not as disabled but as people deserving respect and support.

The fund If Not Now Then When applies this approach in Ukraine, implementing projects that combine Israeli experience in medical and psychological rehabilitation with Ukrainian volunteer self-organization practices.

“Every person has the right to their second wind. The question is who will be there when they seek it,” said Gennady Gazin, explaining the project’s philosophy.

Conclusion

The film “Second Wind” became part of a larger process — a social and humanitarian movement inspired by Israel’s experience and implemented in Ukraine.
It combines personal history, professional cinema, and real aid programs supported by Gennady Gazin’s fund.

This is not just a film about veterans — it is proof that culture, charity, and international cooperation can restore meaning and self-belief to people.

Main sources of material

• Review of the film “Second Wind” — UP.Culture
  
• Review of the film “Second Wind” — UNIAN
  
• Veteran with a prosthetic raises a million for the army — RBC Ukraine
  
• Film “Second Wind” — Cinema.in.ua
  
• Official website of the fund “If Not Now Then When”
  
• Genesis Philanthropy Group — official website
  

Influential American supporter of Donald Trump and supporter of Israel, Laura Loomer, during a July trip to Ukraine, learned previously unknown details about the history of her Jewish family. Ukrainian archivists found information about her great-grandfather Pinkus Loomer, who was born in Vinnytsia on February 10, 1895, and later moved with relatives to Kyiv.

Loomer openly speaks about her Jewish heritage and has positioned herself as a consistent supporter of Israel for many years, paying special attention to combating anti-Semitism, the threat from Iran, and the security of the Jewish state. In 2026, she also opposed the strengthening of anti-Israel sentiments within the American conservative movement and criticized those MAGA representatives who questioned the US alliance with Israel.

Loomer received copies of archival documents during an interview with Ukrainian TV host Marichka Padalko. The conversation was published on July 24, 2026, as part of the “Marichka” project. Already on July 25, the story gained wide coverage in Ukrainian and international media.

The archival discovery turned out to be especially symbolic, as it occurred at a time of a sharp change in Loomer’s public position. Previously, she criticized American support for Ukraine and repeated Kremlin-spread claims, but after a personal trip, air raid alarms, meetings with Ukrainians, and visits to sites destroyed by Russian strikes, she acknowledged that her previous views were shaped by disinformation.

What Laura Loomer knew about her family

Before the trip, Loomer only knew that her family had Jewish roots and that her paternal ancestors emigrated to the United States from Kyiv. According to her, the family preserved several old photographs, and among the names of ancestors, Pinkus and Annie were mentioned.

“I am Jewish. And, according to my father, his grandfather and grandmother emigrated from Kyiv. That’s all I knew. I never saw my grandparents. My grandmother died before I was born, and my grandfather when I was only a year old or less. I only know that we have a few of their photographs, that their names were Pinkus and Annie, and that they were from Kyiv,” said Laura Loomer.

During the interview, Loomer said she had almost no other information. The information about the family’s origin was passed on to her by her father, but she had no detailed documents or extensive family history.

Ukrainian journalists and archivists managed to go further. The materials found showed that the Loomer family was connected not only with Kyiv but also with Vinnytsia.

TSN channel with the help of archive staff discovered information about Laura Loomer’s great-grandfather in Ukrainian archives. It turned out he was born in Vinnytsia on February 10, 1895. Later the whole family moved to Kyiv.

“It says here that the Loomer family is from Vinnytsia, modern Ukraine. Historical documents indicate that in 1875 they were officially enrolled in the bourgeois class,” read Laura Loomer.

In addition, the influencer was given copies of documents about her family stored in Ukrainian archives. She noted that she knew almost nothing about her family’s history but was very eager to learn about it.

“I would never have known all this if I hadn’t stopped believing Russian propaganda,” she said.

Laura Loomer was shocked by what she learned about her family’s origins. She also thanked the archive staff who helped find information about her family’s origins.

Date	Established fact
1875	Representatives of the Loomer family were officially enrolled in the bourgeois class
February 10, 1895	Pinkus Loomer was born in Vinnytsia
Later	The family moved from Vinnytsia to Kyiv
Subsequently	Representatives of the family emigrated from Kyiv to the USA
July 24, 2026	Laura Loomer was given copies of documents found in Ukraine

TSN directly names Pinkus Loomer as the great-grandfather of the American blogger. The date 1875, accordingly, does not refer to Pinkus himself, who was born twenty years later, but to an earlier generation of the family.

Upon receiving the documents, Loomer stated: “I would never have known all this if I hadn’t stopped believing Russian propaganda.” She thanked the archive staff and admitted that the news about her family’s origins was a strong emotional shock for her.

Can Loomer be called “half-Ukrainian”

Some headlines claimed that Laura Loomer was allegedly “half-Ukrainian.” However, the available documents allow us to confidently speak only about the Ukrainian roots of one branch of her family.

The exact share of origin in the published materials is not established. Therefore, it is more correct to write that Loomer has Ukrainian Jewish roots on her father’s side, and her great-grandfather was born in Vinnytsia and later lived in Kyiv.

There is also some confusion with the indication of the degree of kinship. In one part of the interview, it is said that Loomer’s father told her about his grandparents who emigrated from Kyiv. In this case, for Laura herself, they are great-grandparents. In another part of the retelling, the word “grandfather” is used. The most reliable guide remains the archival part of the TSN material, where Pinkus Loomer is directly named her great-grandfather.

The trip that changed Loomer’s position

Laura Loomer is known as one of the most prominent figures in the American conservative media environment and a consistent supporter of Donald Trump. Her social media audience approaches two million followers, and her publications regularly become part of discussions within the MAGA movement.

Previously, Loomer downplayed the consequences of the Russian invasion for years, opposed support for Ukraine, and repeated the thesis of alleged widespread Nazism in the country. This thesis is used by the Kremlin to justify the full-scale Russian aggression that began in February 2022.

Everything changed after the blogger decided to personally visit Ukraine. During her first air raid experience, she wrote that she had previously spoken about what was happening without proper empathy, but now considers “moral clarity” necessary.

For NAnews — Israel News, this part of the story has special significance. Loomer’s turnaround occurred not only after getting acquainted with the destruction but also after communicating with the Jewish community of Ukraine. Her personal family history additionally showed how closely intertwined the fates of American and Israeli Jews are with Ukrainian cities, which are being destroyed today by Russian strikes.

Meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky

On July 23, 2026, Laura Loomer met in Kyiv with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and recorded an interview for her program Loomer Unleashed. Among the topics of conversation were Zelensky’s relations with Donald Trump, a tense meeting in the Oval Office, and a subsequent conversation between the two presidents in the Vatican in April 2025.

Zelensky stated that a short conversation with Trump in the Vatican became a turning point and allowed the nature of relations between them to change in approximately 15–20 minutes. After the publication of the interview fragment, Donald Trump positively assessed the conversation on his social network.

At the same time, Loomer’s visit was not pre-organized by Ukrainian state structures. Presidential representative Dmytro Litvin told the Associated Press that the President’s Office initially learned about her stay in the country from social media.

On July 24, Zelensky separately mentioned Loomer in his evening address. The President of Ukraine called her a person very close to Trump and noted that during the trip she saw Kyiv, the Lavra, Ukrainians, and what the country is going through in the face of ongoing aggression.

Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the strike on the Assumption Cathedral

One of the central points of the trip was a visit to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. On July 23, Loomer met with the First Deputy Head of the President’s Office, Serhiy Kyslytsia, after which they went together to the Assumption Cathedral.

On the night of June 15, 2026, during a massive Russian strike, a drone hit the cathedral, causing a fire. Loomer inspected the aftermath of the attack and sharply criticized the Kremlin’s attempts to simultaneously present Russia as a defender of Christianity and strike one of Ukraine’s main Orthodox shrines.

She drew attention to the damage to the building and images of Jesus Christ, questioning how a state can claim to protect the Christian faith while attacking an ancient monastic complex with strike drones.

Conversation with the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Asman

During her stay in Kyiv, Loomer also visited the Central Synagogue of Ukraine and met with the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Asman.

Moshe Asman told her about daily Russian shelling, dead children and civilians, destroyed cities and villages, and the life of the Jewish community in a warring country. He emphasized that many of Loomer’s previous perceptions of Ukraine were shaped by Russian information campaigns.

After the meeting, the American blogger publicly rejected claims that Ukrainian Jews were allegedly hostages of a “Nazi regime.” She pointed to the active life of Jewish communities and the fact that the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, is himself Jewish.

For NAnews — Israel News, it is important to note that Loomer’s story became an example of how direct acquaintance with Jewish life in Ukraine destroys one of the central constructs of Russian propaganda. Moscow has been trying for years to simultaneously use the theme of World War II and hide the consequences of its own strikes on Ukrainian cities, synagogues, churches, memorials, and mass burial sites.

Laura Loomer and Israel: Jewish identity and a tough stance on Iran

Israel occupies an important place in Laura Loomer’s public activities. She was born into a Jewish family, openly speaks about her heritage, and presents herself as a defender of Israel and Jewish communities in the United States. It is through this prism that she often views US foreign policy, the situation in the Middle East, and the struggle within the American conservative movement.

Loomer consistently supports Israel’s right to defense and advocates for maintaining a close alliance between Washington and Jerusalem. In the spring of 2026, she claimed to have warned Donald Trump about the possible weakening of support for Israel among future American presidents. According to her, Trump may be the last openly pro-Israel US president, although the White House did not confirm the content of this conversation.

A separate direction of her activity has been the fight against the spread of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiments within the MAGA movement. In February 2026, Loomer sharply opposed further political rapprochement between Trump’s entourage and Tucker Carlson. The reason was his statements about Israel, criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and appearances on platforms associated with Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

At the same time, Loomer’s position is not limited to ordinary support for Israel. She adheres to an extremely tough approach to the Islamic Republic of Iran, rejects concessions to Tehran, and opposes agreements that, in her opinion, could leave the Iranian regime with the ability to threaten Israel and the United States.

In July 2026, Loomer caused sharp criticism after publicly calling on Israel to strike participants at the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Her statement was perceived as a proposal to attack a mass event, thus causing accusations of incitement to violence. This episode shows that Loomer’s pro-Israel position is often accompanied by extremely radical rhetoric, which cannot be equated with Israel’s official policy.

Russia’s connection with Iran became one of the factors that influenced her change in attitude towards Ukraine. After the trip, Loomer began to view Russian aggression not as an isolated European issue but as part of a broader system of cooperation between Moscow, Tehran, and Beijing. She stated that this alliance poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the US and Israel.

That is why her meeting with the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Asman, had not only a Ukrainian but also an Israeli dimension for her. Loomer came to a country she previously perceived through Russian claims of Nazism but saw an active Jewish community, a Jewish president, and religious leaders openly supporting Ukraine’s defense.

For NAnews — Israel News, it is important to separate several circumstances in this story. Loomer is indeed a notable pro-Israel voice within MAGA and opposes anti-Semitism and the Iranian threat. At the same time, her political activity has repeatedly been accompanied by controversial statements, conspiracy theories, and radical formulations that cause criticism, including in the American Jewish community.

The family documents discovered in Ukraine gave her position an additional personal dimension. Loomer’s story now connects American politics, Israel, and Ukrainian Jewish communities through the fate of one family that began in Vinnytsia and Kyiv.

Why Loomer’s change of position matters

Laura Loomer does not hold an official diplomatic position, but she has significant influence over part of the conservative audience in the US and maintains direct contacts with people from Donald Trump’s entourage. Therefore, her public renunciation of Russian theses may have consequences far beyond her personal story.

For many years, criticism of Ukraine within the MAGA movement was built on the repetition of several theses: Ukraine is allegedly completely corrupt, aid to it does not serve US interests, and the Russian invasion is a reaction to Western actions. Loomer previously participated in spreading such views.

After the trip, she began to speak about Russian disinformation, the need to pressure Moscow, and Russia’s connection with the Iranian regime. Loomer supported strengthening sanctions and stated that the Russian economy must be made to pay for continuing aggression.

Her turnaround does not automatically mean a change in the position of the entire MAGA movement. There are still serious disagreements in the American conservative camp regarding military aid to Ukraine and the US role in European security. However, the public acknowledgment of a mistake by someone who previously actively repeated Russian theses has become a notable precedent.

Personal history against the backdrop of big politics

The story of Laura Loomer’s ancestors combined several plots at once: Jewish life in Vinnytsia at the end of the 19th century, the family’s move to Kyiv, emigration to the United States, and modern Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Before arriving in Kyiv, Loomer perceived Ukraine mainly through political disputes and social media publications. During the trip, she experienced an air raid, saw the consequences of Russian strikes, visited a damaged Orthodox shrine, talked with the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Asman, met with Volodymyr Zelensky, and received documents about her own family.

That is why the found archival record became not just a genealogical detail. The great-grandfather of the influential American Trump supporter was born on February 10, 1895, in Vinnytsia, his family was part of the local Jewish community, then moved to Kyiv and emigrated to the USA. More than a century later, his great-granddaughter returned to Ukraine and admitted that she had been looking at her ancestors’ homeland through the prism of Russian propaganda for too long.

This does not prove that Laura Loomer is “half-Ukrainian.” But the documents confirm the main thing: part of her Jewish family’s history begins in Ukrainian Vinnytsia and Kyiv — cities that continue to live and defend themselves today from Russian terrorist strikes.

#promotion

Haifa: Histadrut, 44 (Check-Post)

Winter 2025/2026

✨ First visit – only 268 shekels.
✨ Bring a friend, and you both get a gift!

In Haifa, there are clinics that sell the “effect,” and there are clinics that sell a plan. Sol Clinics is closer to the latter: the center has been operating since 2016, located in the Check-Post area, and emphasizes understanding the skin condition first before choosing procedures. Not “the trendiest,” but what won’t break the barrier and won’t add problems on top.

This is especially important in Israel. Here, even in winter, the skin lives in contrasts: sun and wind, dry indoor air, stress, lack of sleep. Therefore, the complaint “dull color” often goes along with “inflammations,” and “wrinkles” with “dehydration” and sensitivity. In such conditions, cosmetology becomes not a showcase but a tool: to bring the skin to a working state and maintain the result.

Details about the clinic and appointments:
https://cosmetology.nikk.co.il/

Where the clinic is located and why the location really affects the result

Sol Clinics is located at the entrance to Haifa, near Check-Post, at שד׳ ההסתדרות 44 (Histadrut 44), landmark — opposite מרכזית המפרץ. For the city, this is practical: it’s convenient to get here not only from Haifa but also from Krayot, Nesher, part of Carmel.

A separate plus — not “beautiful,” but useful: the clinic has free parking, and the entrance is organized so that you can enter without stairs, directly from the parking lot. This sounds trivial until a person realizes that the course is several visits, and each time they choose whether to go at all.

The working hours of clinics of this type usually extend into the evening. Here, work is declared until 19:00, and the last “after-work” slot is often set around 17:30–17:45. Appointments are available through the website and usually duplicated by quick communication channels (phone/WhatsApp) because it’s easier for people.

What skin and body problems are most often addressed here

Sol Clinics formulates tasks broadly, but essentially they fall into several groups. The center works with aesthetic and skin conditions where not one procedure is important, but the correct sequence.

Age-related changes and skin quality

Loss of elasticity, “soft” oval, flabbiness, fine wrinkles, tired tone. This is the category where people often say: “I don’t need a different face, I need mine to look more alive.”

Pigmentation and uneven tone

Spots after sun exposure, “mottling,” consequences of inflammations (post-inflammatory pigmentation), age-related tone changes.

Acne and post-acne

Inflammations, comedones, enlarged pores, traces after breakouts, sometimes scars. In Israel, adult acne is not uncommon, especially against the background of stress and climate.

Sensitive skin and “complex” conditions

Rosacea, seborrhea, atopic dermatitis, couperose, irritated skin. In such cases, any aggression can cause a setback, and that’s why diagnosis and a gentle pace are important.

Body: cellulite, tone, lymphatic drainage

Skin unevenness, cellulite, swelling, a request for a more even texture and a feeling of “lightness,” especially for those who sit a lot or are often on the road.

Why they start with diagnostics here, not with “choose a procedure from the menu”

This is the point that distinguishes normal practice from “just a salon.” In the clinic’s materials, it is emphasized: without diagnostics, the skin is not touched.

The diagnostic device in their description evaluates two indicators that really determine the fate of the protocol:

Phototype and melanin level

This affects how the skin can react to methods related to energy/light and helps reduce the risk of unwanted spots after procedures.

Inflammation level (including hidden)

If inflammation is high, the clinic does not rush with what can further irritate the skin: active peels, microneedling, fractional methods. First — recovery and stabilization, then — renewal.

From the outside, it looks like “they don’t sell us everything at once.” For the client, this is usually a good sign.

What procedures are available and how to logically choose them

On the clinic’s website, three of the most popular procedures of the season are highlighted: peeling, cryolifting, RF-lifting. These names are most often asked about. But more importantly — to understand what task they are suitable for.

Peeling

It is usually chosen when the skin has become dull, uneven, “rough,” and post-acne marks and pigmentation are more pronounced. Peeling is not about “scraping off the skin,” but about controlled surface renewal. That’s why clear diagnostics before peeling is not a whim: one skin tolerates it easily, another reacts with irritation.

Cryolifting

The procedure is usually taken under the request “I want to look more collected.” Cold protocols are often perceived as a gentle way to get a fresher look, reduce puffiness, and return a “clear” contour to the face without the feeling of aggression.

RF-lifting

RF is most often chosen when it comes to skin tone and density: oval, lower third of the face, overall firmness. In the clinic’s materials, this method is described as comfortable in sensations (the working area is heated to a controlled temperature) and suitable for those who want to “tighten” without surgery.

But the list doesn’t end there

The clinic’s description also includes other directions:

• Combined cleanings and care protocols when the skin needs to be “cleaned and normalized” without trauma.
• Mesostrip and multi-stage care aimed at skin quality, tone, recovery.
• Microneedling — as a tool for texture and renewal, considering that the skin after the procedure can be sensitive and needs proper support.
• Fractional directions (including fractional RF) — they are usually used when the goal is not “quick refresh,” but to work deeper with density, relief, and traces. At the same time, the clinic does not hide: some fractional methods may feel stronger than standard care procedures.
• IPL directions for acne/post-acne and pigmentation tasks — where it is important to work with redness, spots, and the overall skin background.

It is separately noted that the clinic uses a range of equipment (15 devices are mentioned), and preparations are selected according to the technique — without attempts to “replace with something cheaper,” so as not to break the protocol.

How the course is built and what is promised in terms of results

The clinic quite directly formulates expectations: a noticeable effect is possible after the first visit, but a stable result often requires a course — usually a range of 6–10 procedures (depending on the task).

There is another point that is usually important to people but rarely voiced: course adjustment along the way. In Sol Clinics’ materials, it is stated that in the middle of the program, the result is evaluated together with the client, and if the dynamics are weaker than expected, the protocol can be changed or strengthened without additional payment. This is not a “guarantee of a miracle,” but it is the logic of medical support: to look at the reaction, not to sell a standard package as unchangeable.

The clinic also talks about home care as part of the result: the description mentions the selection of care from professional lines (sets from several leading brands are mentioned), because without home support, the effect of the procedures often lives less.

Can face and body be done in one day

The clinic’s materials specifically state that if time allows and according to the schedule, face and body procedures can be combined in one day. For people who do not live in the center of Haifa or come from Krayot, this is really convenient: fewer trips, a higher chance to complete the course.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where to start if you’ve never done cosmetology in Israel?

Start with a consultation and diagnostics. This is the calmest way to understand what exactly your skin “hurts”: dehydration, inflammation, pigmentation, loss of tone, or all together. Sol Clinics emphasizes that without diagnostics, the skin is not touched: they look at phototype/melanin and inflammation level, and only then offer a plan — without guessing “by procedure name.”

What to bring to the first consultation?

Nothing complicated. If you have — bring a list of cosmetics you use at home, and remember if there were reactions to procedures/creams. It’s also important to say if there is a tendency to herpes, frequent irritations, allergies, pregnancy/breastfeeding, what medications you are currently taking. This saves time and helps not to prescribe what definitely doesn’t suit you.

Do I need to come without makeup?

Preferably, but not always necessary. If you come with makeup, the clinic usually still cleanses the skin before examination. But if possible — come “clean,” it’s easier to immediately see the skin condition: redness, peeling, inflammations, dehydration.

If the skin is sensitive, does that mean nothing can be done?

Not necessarily. “Sensitive skin” is not a prohibition, it’s a regime. It means the pace will be more cautious, and the order of procedures different: first, barrier restoration and irritation reduction, then — renewal and more active methods. If diagnostics show a high level of inflammation, aggressive techniques (peels, microneedling, fractional methods) are usually postponed to avoid worsening.

Can procedures be done if there is rosacea/couperose/dermatitis?

Sometimes yes, but not everything and not immediately. In such conditions, it’s important not to “chase” the skin with force. Softer protocols are often chosen, and active methods are only set when the skin is stable. This is discussed separately during the consultation because skin reactivity varies for everyone.

How to understand which procedure I need: peeling, cryolifting, or RF-lifting?

It depends on the leading problem.

If the main complaint is dull tone, uneven texture, marks/spots, “roughness” — they often start with gentle renewal (peeling), but only after assessing skin sensitivity.

If you want “compactness” and a fresh look, less puffiness and tired face — cryolifting is often chosen.

If the main topic is firmness and contour (oval, lower third of the face, flabbiness) — RF-lifting is usually considered as the basic “framework” procedure.

But the decision is still made after examination because the same complaint in different people can have different causes.

Is adult acne treated the same as teenage acne?

Often not. Adult acne can be related to stress, hormonal background, care, skin sensitivity, disrupted barrier. Therefore, it’s important to first assess inflammation and not take steps that can increase irritation. Sol Clinics specifically highlights hardware directions for acne/post-acne and usually builds the course to simultaneously reduce active inflammations and carefully work with traces.

Post-acne: what can really be improved?

Post-acne usually has three layers: marks/spots, relief, enlarged pores. Improvements are almost always possible, but the speed depends on the depth of the problem and skin reaction. It’s important not to expect “minus 10 years at once,” but to follow the course: first stabilization, then tone leveling, then working with texture and skin density.

Pigmentation: how many procedures are needed and how quickly is the effect visible?

With pigmentation, it’s always more honest to say: “it depends.” There are spots that go away quickly, and there are those that require a course and discipline with home care. The speed is influenced by: type of pigmentation (sun, post-inflammatory, hormonal), phototype, season, and how well a person follows care and skin protection recommendations.

How long does one visit take?

Depends on the procedure and plan. Care and cleanings usually take longer (often 60–90 minutes), hardware procedures can be shorter. The exact time will be told when booking, when clarifying what exactly you want to solve first.

How long does the course take?

The course depends on the task and frequency of visits. The clinic’s materials mention a guideline: a stable effect often requires 6–10 procedures. But this is a range, not a “mandatory norm.” Sometimes fewer procedures plus support are enough, and sometimes a longer plan is needed — especially for post-acne and pronounced pigmentation.

When will I see the first changes?

Many notice changes after the first visit: the skin may look fresher, “more even,” less puffiness, better tone. But a stable result usually accumulates over the course. This is normal: the skin does not restructure in one day, especially if the problem has been forming for years.

Can face and body procedures be combined in one day?

Sometimes yes — it depends on the schedule and what procedures are planned. The clinic’s materials state that combining is possible if time and “slots” are available. This is often convenient for those who come from outside the center of Haifa and want to reduce the number of trips.

Is it painful?

Most procedures are described as comfortable and without long rehabilitation. But there are methods that may feel stronger (for example, some fractional technologies). During the consultation, they usually explain in advance what to expect in terms of sensations and adjust the intensity to the person, not “to the maximum.”

Will there be rehabilitation: redness, peeling, “can’t go outside”?

Depends on the method. Soft care procedures usually do not give noticeable rehabilitation. After some techniques, there may be temporary redness or sensitivity. Importantly, with high inflammation, the clinic usually does not set aggressive procedures first to reduce the risk of unpleasant reactions.

Can procedures be done in the summer?

Some can, some — with restrictions. The Israeli sun makes seasonality important, especially in matters of pigmentation and active skin renewal. Therefore, the plan is often built so that in summer, more gentle and supportive steps are taken, and active ones are moved to a calmer season.

What home care is needed after procedures?

Usually without fanaticism. Often basic things are enough: gentle cleansing, hydration/barrier restoration, skin protection, and targeted products for your task. Sol Clinics emphasizes that home care is part of the result, not an “addition.”

If I already have cosmetics at home — will I be forced to change everything?

Usually, there is no point in “burning bridges.” They often look at compositions, compatibility with procedures, and skin reaction. Sometimes it’s enough to replace 1–2 items, and leave the rest. The main goal is for the care not to conflict with the course.

Is there a “guarantee of results”?

The clinic’s materials describe the approach: in the middle of the course, the dynamics are evaluated together with the client, and if necessary, the protocol is adjusted without additional payment. This is not a promise of a miracle “for everyone and always,” but it is an understandable model of support: to look at progress and change tactics if the skin reacts differently.

How often should maintenance procedures be done after the course?

The frequency of support depends on age, skin type, and what the main problem was. Usually, after completing the course, maintenance visits are done less often — for example, once every few weeks or once a month. It’s better to discuss specifics based on the result and skin reaction.

How to book and what to say when booking to be properly directed?

The simplest is to briefly describe the main goal: “pigmentation,” “acne/post-acne,” “oval/flabbiness,” “dull skin,” “cellulite/swelling.” If you say this right away, the administrator can offer the correct format for the first visit and approximate time.

Details about the clinic and appointments:
https://cosmetology.nikk.co.il/

Sol Clinics in Haifa looks like an example of practical urban cosmetology: a convenient location at Check-Post, emphasis on diagnostics, course, and support, rather than loud promises. For readers of NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, this is a case where “where it is located” and “how the course is conducted” are more important than the names of procedures on the showcase.

Ukraine is not just holding back Russian aggression, but is changing the balance of power in the confrontation of democratic countries with Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. However, Kyiv’s success still needs to be turned into a political and military victory — and this is where the West continues to hesitate.

The American publication The Hill published a column on July 23, 2026, with a provocative but far from unfounded conclusion: Ukraine may already be winning World War III for the West, which has not yet realized that it has begun.

The authors of the material are national security experts Mark Toth and Jonathan Sweet. The latter served for 30 years in the US Army military intelligence and headed the US European Command’s intelligence interaction unit from 2012 to 2014. Mark Toth specializes in foreign policy, military strategy, and national security. Their publication is an author’s column, not the official position of the US government or an editorial statement by The Hill.

The main idea of the authors is that what is happening in Ukraine has long ceased to be a local European war. Russian aggression has become the central open front of a much broader confrontation, in which Moscow receives help from China, Iran, and North Korea, while the opponents of this coalition are Western democracies and their partners.

World War III has already begun — but it looks different

Toth and Sweet wrote back in July 2022 that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine became part of a global clash between the democratic world and a new authoritarian bloc.

However, this is not World War III in the classical sense — with an official declaration of war, stable fronts between great powers, and direct battles between the armies of the US, Russia, or China.

The modern global confrontation is conducted simultaneously by several methods:

• conventional weapons and drones;
• cyberattacks and sabotage;
• economic pressure;
• arms supplies through intermediary states;
• information operations;
• use of dependent armed groups;
• struggle for technology, sea routes, and energy resources.

That is why Western capitals often perceive Russian aggression against Ukraine, Chinese pressure on Taiwan, Iran’s nuclear and missile program, North Korea’s actions, and wars in the Middle East as separate crises.

The authors of The Hill suggest looking at them as interconnected elements of the struggle for a new world order.

Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are indeed acting together

Cooperation between these states can no longer be called merely diplomatic.

NATO officially states that North Korea directly supports Russia with military personnel, weapons, and ammunition. Iran helps Moscow with drones and missiles. The alliance also points to the deepening strategic partnership between Russia and China, as well as the expansion of defense-industrial cooperation between Moscow, Iran, and North Korea.

At the same time, the forms of participation vary.

North Korea provides Russia with ammunition, weapons, and manpower. Iran has transferred strike drone technologies and supports Moscow with weapons. China has not openly entered the war but provides the Russian economy with a market, supplies dual-use goods and components, and helps Russia mitigate the effects of Western sanctions.

This is not yet a formal military alliance like NATO. However, the West is already facing a united system of states that help each other resist sanctions, maintain military production, and stretch US and European resources across multiple regions.

Why the authors say Ukraine is winning

It’s not about Russian troops already being expelled from Ukrainian territory.

Russia still occupies about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea and areas of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Russian missiles and drones continue to attack Ukrainian cities, energy infrastructure, and civilians daily.

But the strategic goals with which Putin launched the full-scale invasion in February 2022 have not been achieved.

Moscow failed to:

• capture Kyiv;
• destroy the Ukrainian state;
• change the legitimate government;
• subjugate the entire country;
• eliminate the Ukrainian army;
• impose a Russian foreign policy orientation on Ukraine;
• split NATO.

Instead, Ukraine maintained statehood, gained candidate status for EU membership, deeply integrated into the Western security system, and created one of the most technologically advanced armies in the world.

Even after several years of Russian offensives, territorial changes remain incomparable to the losses incurred. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, in 2025, Russia captured approximately 5,000 square kilometers, or less than 1% of Ukraine’s territory.

In July 2026, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that since the beginning of the year, Ukrainian forces had reclaimed about 700 square kilometers. Data from independent analytical projects also show that recent Russian advances were measured in tens of square kilometers, not large-scale operational breakthroughs.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that in the first half of 2026, the loss ratio could have been nearly eight Russian servicemen to one Ukrainian. This is an analytical assessment that cannot be fully verified in wartime conditions, but it shows the scale of the price Moscow pays for extremely limited territorial results.

Ukrainian strikes have moved the war into the Russian rear

One of the main signs of the changing situation was the Ukrainian campaign of long-range strikes.

In the early years of the full-scale war, Ukraine primarily defended its own territory and depended on partners’ decisions that limited the use of transferred weapons against targets inside Russia.

By 2026, Kyiv had created its own long-range drone systems capable of striking Russian oil refineries, military airfields, ammunition depots, ports, railway hubs, and defense industry enterprises thousands of kilometers from Ukraine.

On July 6, 2026, Ukrainian drones attacked the Omsk oil refinery — the largest in Russia. The enterprise is located approximately 2,700 kilometers from territory controlled by Ukraine and can process about 460,000 barrels of oil per day.

After the strike, the plant halted processing, exacerbating the fuel shortage within Russia. Moscow was also forced to limit diesel fuel exports.

Long-range strikes solve several tasks at once.

They reduce Russia’s energy revenues, disrupt army fuel supplies, force Moscow to redeploy scarce air defense resources deep into the rear, and demonstrate to Russian society that the war started by Putin is no longer confined to Ukraine’s territory.

In July, Kyiv also formed a separate command for long-range strikes, responsible for systematic operations against Russian energy, military industry, and logistics.

Ukraine is depriving Russia of its advantage in the Black Sea

Equally important changes are occurring at sea.

Ukraine practically did not have a large military fleet capable of competing with Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. However, the use of maritime and aerial drones allowed the destruction of ships, attacks on port infrastructure, and pushing Russian forces away from the Ukrainian coast.

By July 2026, Ukrainian units began a large-scale operation to disrupt maritime supply to occupied Crimea.

Units of the Unmanned Systems Forces reported hitting more than 180 maritime objects in three weeks, including cargo ships, port cranes, ferries, and energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian strategy aims to gradually isolate Crimea from Russian transport routes through the Azov and Black Seas.

This fundamentally changes the perception of modern warfare.

A state without a traditional large fleet can, with relatively inexpensive drones, limit the actions of a naval force that has been considered dominant in the region for decades.

The West is already buying Ukrainian military experience

Ukraine is gradually transforming from a recipient of aid into a supplier of technology and combat experience.

In July 2026, Kyiv allowed six Ukrainian companies to export about 100 drones each to the US to participate in the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance program.

The first stage of the American competition was already won by a device jointly created by the Ukrainian company Skyfall and the British Skycutter. The program’s goal is to test small strike drones in conditions as close as possible to the real battlefield.

This is an important change.

In 2022, Western countries taught Ukrainian servicemen to use artillery, armored vehicles, and air defense systems. In 2026, NATO and American military are studying Ukrainian methods of drone production, data transmission, electronic warfare, and rapid technology implementation.

A Reuters commentary directly notes that Ukraine has become the world’s largest producer of military drones by quantity and can help NATO adapt extremely slow procurement systems to the pace of modern warfare.

At the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, allies officially recognized that Ukraine contributes to transatlantic security. Alliance countries promised to provide Kyiv with military aid, equipment, and training worth about 70 billion euros in 2026 and to maintain a comparable level of support in 2027.

Russian influence is weakening beyond Ukraine

Toth and Sweet believe that Russia’s losses are already affecting its capabilities in other regions.

After the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Moscow began discussing with the new Syrian authorities the change in the format of its bases in Tartus and Khmeimim. Russian representatives allow for the retention of only a reduced military presence.

In Africa, the situation has also become less favorable for Moscow. In April 2026, the Russian Ministry of Defense-controlled ‘African Corps’ confirmed the withdrawal of its units from Kidal in northern Mali after heavy fighting.

Subsequent attacks by armed groups demonstrated the inability of Moscow-supported authorities to guarantee security even in strategically important areas. This dealt a blow to Russia’s reputation as an alternative ‘security provider’ for African military regimes.

But it is too early to talk about a complete withdrawal of Russia from the Middle East or Africa.

Moscow retains bases, supplies oil to Syria, supports the governments of Sahel countries, and continues to seek access to natural resources. It is more accurate to speak not of the disappearance of Russian influence, but of the increase in its cost and the reduction of opportunities to simultaneously maintain positions in several regions.

China and Taiwan are closely studying Ukraine

Ukrainian experience also affects the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Taiwan is developing maritime drones, territorial defense systems, reservist training, and decentralized infrastructure, taking into account Ukraine’s actions against a significantly larger Russian army.

Taiwanese developers view maritime drones as a relatively inexpensive means against Chinese landing ships and naval blockades. Chinese military analysts, on their part, study Russia’s difficulties and try to understand how to avoid a protracted war, logistical destruction, and international isolation.

It would be premature to claim that Ukraine has already forced Beijing to abandon a possible operation against Taiwan.

However, the cost of a potential invasion has become significantly clearer. Ukraine has shown that even a smaller country can thwart the plans of a more powerful state if it has a motivated society, a developed technological industry, and partner support.

Why what is happening concerns Israel

For the Israeli audience, the main conclusion is that the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East cannot be considered in complete isolation from each other.

Iranian drone technologies that Russia uses to strike Ukrainian cities were created in the same military system that threatens Israel. Russia, Iran, and North Korea exchange weapons, technologies, and experience in circumventing sanctions. China provides them with economic and diplomatic space.

On the pages of NANews — News of Israel, we have repeatedly noted that tolerance for Russian aggression strengthens not only Moscow. It increases Iran’s resilience, facilitates the development of its military industry, and creates an international environment where the use of force increasingly brings political dividends.

The authors of The Hill mention the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, as one of the events of the global confrontation that the West continued to view separately from Russia’s war against Ukraine.

At the same time, it is necessary to distinguish between confirmed facts and political assessment. There is no public evidence of a single command center managing Russian aggression, Iran’s actions, North Korea, China, and the Hamas attack simultaneously.

The point is different: each new crisis distracts attention, weapons, and financial resources of Western countries, facilitating the actions of other participants in the authoritarian bloc.

Therefore, Ukraine’s defeat would be a signal not only for Moscow. It would demonstrate to Tehran, Pyongyang, and Beijing that protracted aggression, nuclear blackmail, and reliance on the fatigue of democracies ultimately work.

Where the authors of The Hill may be exaggerating

The wording that Ukraine is already winning World War III is a strong political image, not an established fact.

Ukraine continues to suffer enormous human and economic losses. Millions of citizens remain abroad, a significant part of the territory is occupied, Russian strikes destroy cities and energy, and the Ukrainian army depends on stable supplies of air defense systems, missiles, ammunition, and financial assistance.

Russia has also not exhausted its ability to continue the war. Its economy is on a war footing, the state retains the ability to mobilize people, and China, Iran, and North Korea help compensate for the shortage of certain resources.

Therefore, Ukraine has not yet won the war in the usual military sense.

But it has already achieved a result that seemed almost impossible in February 2022: thwarted the plan to destroy the Ukrainian state, stopped the advance of the largest army in Europe, and turned Russian aggression into a protracted war of attrition, the consequences of which are felt from Siberia to Syria and Mali.

The West has gained an opportunity, but has not yet taken advantage of it

The main appeal of Toth and Sweet is not to Ukraine, but to Washington and Brussels.

Ukraine has already proven that it can resist, create its own weapons, strike at great depth, and change the rules of modern warfare.

Now the West faces a choice.

It can provide Ukraine with enough resources to consolidate success — strengthen air defense, expand joint arms production, completely block the export of Russian energy resources, and deprive Moscow of access to critical technologies.

Or continue to dose assistance, fearing ‘escalation,’ and give Russia time to recover.

As the authors of The Hill emphasize, World War III has not yet been won, but Ukraine has made victory possible for the West.

According to NANews — News of Israel, the key question is no longer whether Ukraine can stop Russia. It has proven this at the cost of enormous sacrifices.

The question is different: can the democratic world realize that Ukrainian soldiers are defending not only their own cities but also the world order, on which the security of Europe, the US, Israel, and other states directly depends.

If the West again tries to buy temporary peace with concessions to the aggressor, the next war may indeed cease to be a metaphor.

The Publishing House of “Dukh i Litera” is one of the oldest Ukrainian publishers of humanitarian literature, founded in 1992 at the Kyiv Mogilyan Academy. It specializes in the release of books on philosophy, sociology, cultural studies, theology and, above all, on Judaic.

For a Jewish audience in Israel, this publishing house is of particular interest, since it unites the traditions of the two peoples and helps to strengthen interethnic ties.

History and Mission of the Publishing House

The publishing house was created in 1992 on the basis of several research centers of the Kyiv Mogilyan Academy. His mission is to make high -quality humanitarian literature accessible to a wide range of readers, to preserve and convey the spiritual and cultural heritage, as well as stimulate a dialogue between Ukrainian and Israeli cultures.

Buying books is available on the publishing house – https://duh-i-litera.com/

The main achievements of the publishing house:

• Over more than 25 years of work, over 1000 items have been released.
• The most complete series of books on Judaic in Ukraine has been formed.
• Active cooperation with the center of Judaic of the Kyiv Mogilyansk Academy has been established.

As the director of the publishing house noted, Konstantin Sigov:

“We are sure that high-quality non-fiction should be available to everyone, and books are able to open new worlds and unite peoples.”

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The main areas of activity

The Publishing House “Dukh i Litera” covers a wide range of humanitarian topics:

• Philosophy and theology:The release of classical works of European thought and Christian theology, contributing to spiritual enlightenment.
• History and culture:The publication of books on the history of the Jewish people, the study of the Holocaust and the analysis of Ukrainian-Jewish relations.
• Judaika:A special series of scientific and artistic works on the study of Jewish culture, religion, traditions and art.

A selection of books on the Judaic of the Publishing House “Dukh i Litera” in Ukrainian – https://duh-i-litera.com/bookstore/mfp/3f-kategoriya.judaka

What is Judaic?
Judaic is an interdisciplinary area of ​​research, covering history, religious studies, philosophy, literature and art of the Jewish people. It helps to understand the spiritual heritage, traditions, rites and intellectual achievements that have formed the identity of the Jewish community for centuries.

• Fiction:The publication of collections of prose and poetry, reflecting both classical and modern views on life, culture and national identity.

Particular attention is paid to Judaic books, since they are a unique contribution to the study and preservation of Jewish cultural heritage in Ukraine.

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Significant projects and publications

The publishing house implements a number of key projects in cooperation with the center of Judaic of the Kyiv Mogilyansk Academy. Among the iconic publications can be distinguished:

• “Tegilim – Psalms” (Tom 1 and 2):Detailed comments on psalms that combine traditional interpretations with modern research.
• “Jewish addresses of Ukraine”:Guide to historical places related to Jewish culture in Ukraine.
• “Black Book”:A collection of materials dedicated to the Holocaust and the history of the Jewish people.
• “Culture by the Yiddish language”:The study of the traditions of Jewish culture through the prism of Yiddish.
• “Prayer for power”:Historical work on revolutionary processes in the relations of Ukrainians and Jews.
• “Jewish civilization. Oxford Judaic Textbook “:A fundamental textbook revealing the basics of Judaic.

 

Impact on intercultural dialogue

The Publishing House “Dukh i Litera” plays a key role in the development of interethnic dialogue. It not only issues books, but also organizes lectures, presentations and discussions, contributing to the meetings of scientists and readers. Such interaction is especially important for the Jewish audience in Israel, since it helps to deepen the understanding of the cultural heritage of Ukraine and helps to strengthen ties between peoples.

In analytical materials NAnews – Israeli News Repeatedly emphasized that cooperation in the field of humanities is a powerful tool for creating cultural bridges between Ukraine and Israel.

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Founders

Konstantin Sigov

Co -founder, director

The philosopher and public figure, director of the Center for European Humanitarian Studies of the National University of the Kiev-Mogilyansk Academy, organizer of the annual international conference “Assumption Readings” and the Kyiv summer theological institute. It has rich experience in leading universities in the world (Sorbonne, Oxford, Stanford, Geneva, Luven, etc.). The author of the course “European culture: conflict of interpretations” in the science. Cavalier of the Order of Academic Palm (France).

Leonid Finberg

Co -founder, editor -in -chief

Sociologist, editor -in -chief of Spirit and Literal, Director of the Center for Research on History and Culture of Eastern European Hebrew Science. He edited a number of books of the publishing house, including “Jewish civilization. Oxford textbook on Judaic ”(in 2 volumes),“ Jews and Slavs ”,“ Maidan. Certificates ”(in 2 volumes) and others. The author of the book “On different and a little about yourself.” The editor-in-chief of the Almanac “Egupets”, a member of the Presidium of the Ukrainian Department of the International Pen-Club, the host of the UKRLIFETV program-“Spirit and Litecture: Dialogs about culture”.

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Basic challenges and recommendations

Despite successes, the following tasks are faced with the publishing house:

• Financing and modernization:It is necessary to attract investments to update publishing infrastructure and implement modern technologies.
• Expansion of the audience:Active promotion of books and cultural projects both in Ukraine and abroad.
• Preservation of cultural heritage:Adaptation of classic texts for a modern reader without loss of original meaning.

We recommend to readers:

• Familiarize yourself with key publications (for example, “Tegilim – Psalms”, “Jewish addresses of Ukraine”).
• Participate in cultural events, lectures and presentations organized by the publishing house.
• Support projects, contributing to the strengthening of the interethnic dialogue between Ukraine and Israel.

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International cooperation and prospects

The prospects of the publishing house are closely related to international cooperation. The expansion of partnerships with leading universities and cultural centers will not only increase the circulation of publications, but also provide access to high -quality humanitarian literature for a wide audience. This is especially true for Israel, where interest in research in Judaic is constantly growing.

Strategic tasks include:

• Innovative development of publishing Using modern digital technologies.
• Active involvement of investments for modernization of production.
• Strengthening cultural ties Through the organization of joint international projects.

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Conclusion

The Publishing House “Dukh i Litera” is a unique cultural project uniting the Ukrainian and Israeli traditions through the prism of literature on Judaic. For more than 25 years, it has been a bridge between peoples, helps to maintain historical memory and develop a dialogue between cultures. High -quality literature is able not only to enlighten, but also to unite peoples, contributing to mutual understanding and cultural exchange.

We, the team NAnews sincerely recommend that you familiarize yourself with the work of the Publishing House “Spirit and Litera”. Support for such initiatives plays a decisive role in strengthening cultural ties between Ukraine and Israel, expanding the horizons of knowledge for all interested.

A selection of books on the Judaic of the Publishing House “Dukh i Litera” in Ukrainian – https://duh-i-litera.com/bookstore/mfp/3f-kategoriya.judaka

32-year-old resident of Havat Gilad, Benyahu Malt, went to rescue a group of Israelis and was killed by shots from a weapon seized by the attacker from a local security service employee. After the third attack in Samaria in less than a day, the IDF sent five additional companies to the region, blocked the village of Tal, and exits from Nablus.

The morning of Friday, July 24, 2026, brought Israel another heavy news from Samaria. Near the Jewish settlement of Havat Gilad and the Palestinian village of Tal, clashes escalated into gunfire. As a result, 32-year-old Benyahu Malt was killed, and two more Israelis were seriously injured.

According to the IDF, one of the Palestinian attackers took a weapon from a Havat Gilad security service representative and opened fire on Israeli citizens. The shooter was eliminated almost immediately, and the weapon was recovered. Palestinian health authorities simultaneously reported the deaths of four Palestinians and injuries to four others. The full sequence of events and the circumstances of each participant’s death are still being established.

Benyahu Malt went to save people

The deceased Benyahu Malt lived in Havat Gilad, was part of the local rapid response team, and was responsible for agricultural work in the settlement.

He is survived by his wife Esther and two daughters aged 12 and 13.

When information about the attack on Israelis near the village of Tal was received, Malt went to the scene to help people in danger and organize their evacuation. During the rescue operation, he received a severe gunshot wound.

Arriving medics performed resuscitation measures, but could not save him. The head of the Shomron Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, called Malt a devoted family man and a person dedicated to the land of Israel and the security of his settlement.

This was not the first time Benyahu Malt went where people were in danger. Just a few days before his death, he participated in rescue operations during a devastating fire in Havat Gilad.

How the attack unfolded according to the IDF

According to the preliminary Israeli version, a group of Israelis was in the area of the village of Tal, located near Havat Gilad and southwest of Nablus. The army referred to them as “travelers” or participants in a hike.

At the same time, the IDF specifically noted that the group’s exit towards Tal was not pre-coordinated with the military.

Near the village, a clash with local residents began. According to Israeli sources, dozens of people attacked the group. Representatives of the Havat Gilad security service arrived at the scene to provide assistance.

During the clash, one of the Palestinians managed to seize the weapon of a local security officer and opened fire on the Israelis. Benyahu Malt, who arrived to evacuate people, received a fatal wound. Two more Israelis were injured.

The IDF reported that soldiers eliminated the shooter immediately after the attack and recovered the stolen weapon. The military continued to pursue possible accomplices and search for other participants in the clash.

Two wounded were taken to “Ichilov”

Two injured Israelis were evacuated by military helicopters to the “Ichilov” hospital in Tel Aviv.

One of the wounded, about 20 years old, was in critical condition. The second man, approximately 25 years old, was hospitalized in serious condition.

Initial reports from rescue services mentioned a larger number of victims, but confirmed data indicate one dead and at least two Israelis with gunshot wounds.

NANews — Israel News continues to monitor the condition of the wounded. At the time of preparing the material, a detailed medical forecast was not published.

Four dead Palestinians: circumstances are being clarified

The Ministry of Health of the Palestinian Authority stated that during the events near Tal, four Palestinians were killed, and four more were injured. Three of the injured, according to the Palestinian side, were in critical condition.

Israeli Russian-language media report that the deceased were four men from the Ali Ramadan family.

At the same time, the IDF officially described the circumstances of the elimination of only one person — the attacker who seized the weapon and opened fire on the Israelis. How the other three died, whether they were armed, and whether they directly participated in the attack, was not specified in the initial army reports.

The Associated Press also noted that the circumstances of the shooting immediately after the incident remained unclear. The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that the four deceased were killed by Israeli forces.

The Palestinian side presents a different version of the start of the clashes

Representatives of the Palestinian side claim that the events did not start with an attack on travelers, but with the appearance of a group of Israelis near the houses of the village of Tal.

Local Fatah movement representative Issam Saifi told Reuters that approximately 25–30 Israelis allegedly entered the eastern part of the village and tried to break into two houses. According to him, local residents came out to meet them, after which the shooting began.

Saifi also claims that about half an hour later, the Israelis appeared in the western part of the village, and then the military arrived at the scene. These statements have not yet been confirmed by independent investigation results.

The Israeli side, on the contrary, claims that Palestinians attacked the Israelis in the area, and then one of the attackers seized the security officer’s weapon and used it for shooting.

Thus, the sides describe the start of the clash differently. However, the fact of weapon seizure and subsequent shooting at Israeli citizens is confirmed by the IDF. Final conclusions should be made after studying video recordings, testimonies of soldiers, local residents, and participants of the Israeli group.

The IDF sent five additional companies to Samaria

IDF Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir assessed the situation and ordered a significant increase in military presence in Judea and Samaria.

According to Israeli media, five additional companies of soldiers were sent to the region.

The army has been tasked with the following:

• strengthen the protection of Israeli settlements and roads;
• find all participants in the attack;
• prevent new terrorist attacks;
• continue operations in the areas of Beit Furik and Tubas;
• establish checkpoints on possible escape routes of the attackers.

The IDF temporarily blocked the village of Tal and exits from Nablus. The military began checking transport and search activities in the area of the attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting to discuss possible response measures.

The third attack in Samaria in less than a day

The shooting near Havat Gilad was already the third attack in Samaria in about a day.

On July 23 near Elon Moreh, east of Nablus, two Palestinians attacked an Israeli who was extinguishing a field fire. The victim was seriously injured. The attackers were eliminated.

Later that same day, a stabbing attack occurred near the former settlement of Ganim, about five kilometers southeast of Jenin. One Israeli was lightly injured, and the attacker was eliminated.

After these events, the IDF began operations in Beit Furik and Tubas — localities from which, according to the army, participants in previous attacks arrived.

The sequence of three attacks in such a short time creates a difficult situation for Israeli security forces. It is not only about finding individual attackers but also about the risk of a chain reaction, where one terrorist attack becomes an example for the next.

Six days before the terrorist attack, Havat Gilad experienced a devastating fire

The tragedy of July 24 occurred less than a week after a large-scale fire destroyed a significant part of Havat Gilad.

The fire started on Saturday, July 18, 2026. According to updated data from settlement residents, the fire completely destroyed 22 residential houses, and another 13 houses and structures were seriously damaged. The settlement had to be evacuated.

Benyahu Malt participated in saving people and property during this fire.

Two days later, the Judea and Samaria district police concluded that there were sufficient grounds to consider the damage the result of hostile actions. Two suspects were detained. This decision allows the victims to apply for state compensation as victims of hostile action.

For the residents of Havat Gilad, these events combined into one difficult week: first, dozens of families lost their homes, and then the settlement lost a person who helped save others.

Questions that the investigation must answer

In addition to searching for possible accomplices of the shooter, Israeli security forces need to establish:

• why the group of Israelis headed to the village of Tal;
• who organized the outing and why it was not coordinated with the army;
• where the first clash began;
• how many people participated in the attack;
• how the weapon ended up in the shooter’s hands;
• who exactly opened fire at different stages of the clash;
• under what circumstances the other three Palestinians died;
• whether the military or local security service could have prevented the weapon seizure.

Answers are needed not only to restore the full picture of the incident. They should help determine whether there were mistakes in organizing security, information exchange, and responding to the appearance of a group not coordinated with the army in a potentially dangerous area.

Samaria enters a new period of tension

The events near Havat Gilad show how quickly a local clash can turn into a terrorist attack with human casualties.

One of the participants gained access to a security officer’s weapon, opened fire, and killed a person who came to save others. Simultaneously, the clash led to the deaths of four Palestinians, the circumstances of the deaths of three of whom are not yet publicly explained.

The main task of the IDF now remains to prevent new attacks. The reinforcement of Samaria with five companies, the blocking of Tal and Nablus, and the continuation of operations in Beit Furik and Tubas show that the army does not consider the incident an isolated episode but part of a dangerous series of attacks.

NANews — Israel News expresses condolences to the family of Benyahu Malt. He died when he went to help people in danger, leaving behind a wife and two minor daughters.

The investigation of the events near Havat Gilad continues. Data on the condition of the wounded, arrests of possible accomplices, and the exact sequence of the shooting may be supplemented after new official reports.