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A Jewish Physicist Who Changed Science

In Odesa, 4th Suvorovska Street was officially renamed. It now bears the name of Yosyp (Joseph) Fisher — a prominent theoretical physicist of Jewish origin, whose scientific works remain a foundation for many modern studies. He was born in Minsk in 1919, but spent most of his professional life in Odesa.

This recognition is especially meaningful today, as Jewish and Ukrainian communities seek new points of connection in their shared historical and cultural memory. NAnews — News from Israel explains why the name of Yosyp Fisher deserves to be known by anyone interested in the relationship between Ukraine, Israel, and global science.

A Legacy That Spans a Lifetime

Yosyp Zalmanovych Fisher was a professor at Odesa National University named after I.I. Mechnikov. A theoretical physicist, he devoted over 20 years to advancing science in Odesa. From 1963 to 1983, he headed the Department of Theoretical Physics and created one of the most influential scientific schools in the Soviet Union.

• 150+ PhD candidates — his students
• 15 Doctors of Science — successors of his academic school
• Graduates work on every continent and at most universities in Odesa

What Made Him Famous in Science?

Fisher’s work covered a wide range of fields in the physics of liquid matter. His research explained why water has unusual properties and how fluids behave under critical conditions. He also studied gravitational effects and developed theories that shaped modern understanding of molecular and thermal interactions.

Summary of His Research Areas:

Field	Short Description
Statistical Theory of Liquids	Studied volume and surface properties of simple liquids
Critical Phenomena	Analyzed the behavior of fluids during phase transitions
Hydration	Explained the unique properties of water
Liquid Helium	Studied impurity behavior under superfluidity
Hydrodynamic Fluctuations	Developed the Lagrangian theory of thermal fluctuations
Transport Theory	Modeled thermal and molecular drift
Light Scattering	Created models for scattering in liquids and gases
Coulomb Interactions	Worked on plasma, liquid metals, and semiconductors
Gravity	Refined scalar and electromagnetic field theories

Fisher and Odesa — A Connection That Became Destiny

Although born in Belarus, Odesa became Fisher’s true home. At ONU, he built not just an academic base, but a true intellectual center. A memorial plaque was installed on the university’s main building, and in 2025 — 30 years after his death — the street where he lived and worked was named in his honor.

Ukraine’s scientific community has long highlighted his contributions to global physics, and only now has the city officially acknowledged his legacy.

Why This Matters for Jewish and Ukrainian Identity

NAnews — News from Israel consistently covers topics that help the Jewish diaspora in Israel better understand their roots and feel connected to Ukraine. The story of Yosyp Fisher is one such example. His life is a testament to how a person of Jewish descent became a symbol of Odesa’s scientific greatness.

It is also a response to Russian propaganda claiming that Ukraine disrespects Jews. Renaming the street is not just a tribute to one scientist — it is an act of cultural and historical justice.

Memory as a Foundation for the Future

Commemorating Yosyp Fisher’s name contributes to a shared historical memory. His works are still relevant, his students work across the globe, and now his name will live on in Odesa’s toponymy.

For the Jewish community of Israel, this is a source of pride: one of us became part of Ukraine’s scientific and urban history.

NAnews — News from Israel will continue to share stories about people who serve as bridges between Ukraine and Israel, between the Jewish and Ukrainian peoples.

June 10 is the birthday of the legendary “Dido Panas” – Petro Vesklyarov (Pinchas Khaimovich Vesklyar). The future actor was born in Talne, Uman County, Kyiv Province (now Cherkasy region) and came from a Jewish family.

A significant legend spread that, being the host of the children’s program “Good Night, Kids”, which was broadcast live, Grandpa Afanasiy ended the program with the phrase: “Such nonsense, kids…”

There is no tangible evidence that this happened (only one tape was preserved from the television archives), and the testimonies of witnesses are contradictory.

His signature greeting “Good evening to you, little ones, dear boys and girls” immediately transported you to some amazing world and heralded a fantastic adventure.

His fifteen-minute program “Good Night, Kids!” aired every Friday at 8:45 PM from 1964 to 1986 for 17 years (!).

From childhood. Who remembers? How many of us are here?

“Good evening to you, little ones, dear boys and girls…” This is how Grandpa Panas, the beloved of all, addressed Ukrainian kids from the TV screens in the program “Good Night, Kids.”

His colorful appearance (real Cossack mustache, beautiful embroidered shirt, warm voice with genuinely Ukrainian intonations); the interior of a Ukrainian room with towels; exclusively Ukrainian fairy tales made an unforgettable impression on both children and adults. For all viewers, he was familiar and recognizable.

The future actor was born in Talne, Uman County, Kyiv Province (now Cherkasy region). His birth surname was Vesklyar, and he came from a respectable Jewish family. The family lived in a so-called commune – a two-story house where several families settled. One room per family and a shared kitchen and dining room.

Petro became interested in theater in his youth. He visited the local drama club. It was here that actors from Cherkasy, who came on tour, noticed him. Thus, in 1932, Vesklyarov became an actor at the Cherkasy Workers’ and Peasants’ Theater.

At the beginning of the war, Petro was mobilized and sent to serve in the military theater of the Southwestern Front.

The 30-year-old artist was surrounded with the troops and ended up in a prisoner camp, where he introduced himself as Petro Vesklyarov. His atypical appearance and rich Ukrainian language saved him, and he escaped at the first opportunity. He returned to Kyiv, which was occupied by the Germans at the time. Concealing his origin, he found work on the railway and immediately created a theater club.

In late autumn 1941, the Germans began to gradually release Ukrainian prisoners home – Vesklyarov was freed. He did not return to the Cherkasy region, where the truth about his origin was known, and spent two years of occupation in Kyiv.

When the city became Soviet again, Vesklyarov returned to the frontline theater. He was demobilized in 1946.

He was not allowed to settle in the capital of the Ukrainian SSR (due to being on occupied territory – a “black mark” in his record for life), and was sent to Lutsk.

After the war, P. Vesklyarov was appointed to the Volyn Ukrainian Music and Drama Theater named after Shevchenko. Here the actor served until 1959, playing many interesting roles. Among them were Nikolai Zadorozhny (“Stolen Happiness” by I. Franko), the Commander (“The Stone Host” by Lesya Ukrainka), the Mayor (“The Inspector General” by N. Gogol)…

While working in Lutsk, he received an invitation to act in films. He moved to Kyiv. He proved himself as a brilliant supporting actor. Uncle Lev in “The Forest Song,” Grandpa Petriya in the film “Oleksa Dovbush,” Mr. Rector (“Viy”), Father Budulai (“Gypsy”)…

Vesklyarov’s last role in cinema was a peasant in the film “Forget the Word Death,” shot at the Odessa Film Studio in 1979. By that time, Petro Yefimovich was already widely known as Grandpa Panas from television. Which, by the way, was not only a positive but also a negative side: Vesklyarov was no longer invited to act in films. Whatever role he was offered, people saw only “Grandpa Panas” in the actor.

But this is probably not the main reason why Petro Vesklyarov was not offered leading roles or any roles at the “main” film studios. The reason is almost fantastic. In the USSR, a state of total Russification, actor Vesklyarov… practically did not speak Russian. Always – only in Ukrainian. To “language” questions, he jokingly replied: “I can’t learn Russian”… In the films where Vesklyarov still acted, his characters were voiced by other actors.

The actor died on January 5, 1994.

Colleagues remember Petro Yefimovich as a very sociable person, with a great sense of humor, a joker, and a wonderful storyteller.

Already grown-up people fondly remember him: “Sleep, my little one, hush, and the gray bunny is sleeping…”

A person who dedicated his entire life to ensuring that generation after generation of children in Ukraine heard the Ukrainian language, listened to Ukrainian fairy tales, joined Ukraine, and became Ukrainians. A person who proved with his entire life that even one warrior in the field is still a warrior and can still hope for victory. Even if everyone around considers Ukrainian a “rural dialect,” if they despise it and do not speak it – he still raises millions of children in such a way that they love and understand Ukrainian.

A deep bow and eternal respect. For everything. For the wonderful fairy tales, for the melodiousness of speech, for the crescent-shaped mustache, and the good smile. Bright and friendly, he became a grandfather for everyone. Every Ukrainian child had Grandpa Panas. Happy Birthday!

Read us on the channels Israel News Nikk.Agency Новини Ізраїлю

January 12, 2025 on the air of Lera Galitsina’s program on “Best Radio of Israel” featured a special guest — artist, animator, and cultural attaché of the Israeli Embassy in Ukraine Regina Shafir.

In the interview, she talked about her unique mission in Ukraine, the challenges of war, the promotion of Israeli culture, and personal experiences.

Regina Shafir is the wife of the Israeli ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky. Their children serve in the Israel Defense Forces, highlighting their connection to both countries.

Despite difficult circumstances, she continues to actively strengthen cultural ties between Israel and Ukraine by organizing lectures, exhibitions, and other events.

Painting Bomb Shelters and Working During the War

One of the most emotional moments of the interview was related to a project implemented by Regina Shafir and her colleague Zoya Sever. In November 2024, the artists transformed the bomb shelter of the children’s hospital “Okhmatdet” in Kyiv, turning it into a bright and cozy space.

We wrote about this – “Israeli Artists Transformed a Bomb Shelter in Kyiv’s Children’s Hospital ‘Okhmatdet’: Art for Children During the War”

“We wanted to give children the opportunity to escape, even in such difficult conditions. Art helps to cope with anxiety and fear,” shared Regina.

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Israeli Culture in Ukraine

Despite challenging times, Regina actively works on promoting Israeli culture. In the interview, she detailed the “Month of Israeli Series” held in Ukraine at the end of 2024.

“Israeli culture is unique in its sentimentality. Even military and dramatic plots always touch the depths of the soul,” she noted.

Also discussed were:

• The role of new immigrants in cultural diplomacy.
• The complexities of interaction between Israeli and Ukrainian cultural environments.

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Criticism of Israel and Personal Experiences

Regina openly expressed her views on the criticism directed at Israel by Ukrainians, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding.

A particularly touching moment was when Regina talked about her sons serving in the IDF, participating in military actions. “Death has become too close. It makes you appreciate every moment of life,” she shared.

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Art and Public Opinion

An important part of the interview was Regina’s reflections on art in wartime conditions and the changing perception of the artist by society. She raised topics such as:

• Confronting public opinion.
• The impact of artificial intelligence on creativity.
• Time management and work on the cartoon “Hatul Tov.”

“An artist remains relevant always because art is a reflection of life and history,” emphasized Shafir.

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Regina Shafir’s Cartoons

Regina detailed her cartoons, including works that address important social and cultural themes. Among the mentioned projects are her blog and animations that have already gained popularity in Israel and beyond.

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Personal Notes: Life on the Move and the Inner Child

The interview concluded with light and heartfelt topics. Regina talked about the life of diplomats, her children, and how she manages to maintain her inner child despite all the challenges.

“I feel like a citizen of the world. And this helps me understand others and convey my experiences through art,” she shared.

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Conclusion

Regina Shafir is a vivid example of a person who builds bridges between cultures through art, even in difficult times. Her creativity, personal example, and cultural mission strengthen ties between Israel and Ukraine.

You can learn more about Regina’s cartoons and her projects on her channel: https://www.youtube.com/@regishafir

Our website NANews — News of Israel continues to cover stories of people uniting our countries and shares unique examples of cultural interaction.

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The morning of February 28, 2026 marked a sharp transition of the Middle Eastern crisis into an open military phase. After the start of a joint operation by Israel and the USA against Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an emergency address to the citizens of the country, warning of difficult days ahead.

Simultaneously, US President Donald Trump confirmed the start of a large-scale American military campaign against the Islamic Republic, designating it as a strategic operation to eliminate a national security threat.

Netanyahu’s address: preparing society for tense days

In a published video address, the head of the Israeli government directly addressed the citizens of the country, emphasizing that the operation is aimed against what he called an existential threat from the Iranian regime.

Netanyahu stated that Israel is acting jointly with the United States and specifically thanked US President Donald Trump for his support and political leadership at the moment of escalation.

According to the Prime Minister, for decades, the leadership of Iran has openly threatened the destruction of Israel and the USA, while simultaneously developing military capabilities that, according to Israeli authorities, could lead to the creation of nuclear weapons.

Call to follow safety instructions

A key part of the address was a call to the population to remain calm and strictly follow the instructions of the Home Front Command.

Netanyahu warned that during the operation, named “Lion’s Roar”, Israeli society will need endurance, discipline, and readiness for possible retaliatory actions from Iran.

He emphasized the idea of national unity, stating that the country’s security is ensured by the joint actions of the army and civil society.

Amidst the events, NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency notes: public addresses by Israeli leadership are increasingly aimed not only at informing but also at psychologically preparing the population for a prolonged phase of regional confrontation.

Trump’s statement: The USA begins a long-term military campaign

Almost simultaneously with the Israeli Prime Minister’s address, US President Donald Trump made his own statement to the American audience.

He announced the start of a “large-scale and prolonged operation” by the American armed forces against Iran.

According to Trump, the goal of the campaign is to prevent threats to the USA and their strategic interests from the Iranian regime, which Washington considers a radical dictatorship.

Strikes on Iran’s military infrastructure

The American leader stated that the military actions are aimed at destroying Iran’s missile capabilities and its military infrastructure, including elements of the missile industry and naval forces.

Trump separately noted that, according to American intelligence, Iran continued work on restoring its nuclear program after previous strikes on nuclear facilities.

The US President also addressed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps with a stern warning to lay down arms, stating that otherwise, the consequences would be military.

The region enters a new phase of conflict

The coincidence of statements by the leaders of Israel and the USA shows a high level of coordination between allies and indicates the transition of the conflict into a long-term strategic phase.

Israeli security services continue preparations for possible retaliatory strikes, including missile attacks and actions by Iran’s proxy forces in the region.

For Israeli citizens, the coming days remain a period of heightened readiness, where adherence to safety instructions and prompt response to warnings from the army and civil defense become key.

The situation continues to develop, and its consequences may determine the security balance in the Middle East for years to come.

Ukrainian diplomat and expert of the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation Volodymyr Lakomov in a column for “Literary Ukraine” proposes a controversial but understandable thesis: the colonial experience of Eastern Europe cannot be described only in the language of “classical” modern empires.

At the center of his argument is the idea of “reverse colonialism”: a model in which the colonizer historically appeared less developed in institutional and cultural terms than the colonized territories.

“Reverse colonialism”: Ukraine as a mirror of the colonizer

Not a periphery, but a source of modernity

In Lakomov’s text, Ukraine (like the Baltic countries, Poland, Finland) is described not as a cultural periphery of the empire, but as a space with higher practices of self-governance, economy, and education compared to “deep” Russia.

This asymmetry, according to the author, makes Eastern European colonialism “inverted”: the center gains control but does not bring modernization — it borrows it, displacing and appropriating.

The formula sounds harsh.

But it is precisely on such formulations that the author builds the explanation of why the conflict around Ukraine is not only a struggle for territory but a dispute over the right to be an alternative to the imperial center.

Horde as the original “statehood of control”

Lakomov traces the genealogy of this model to the Golden Horde, describing it not just as a military force, but as a system of governance that relied on three things:

tribute and resource extraction,

subjugation of local elites through dependence and internal conflicts,

sacralization of the ruler’s power “beyond the law”.

In such logic, the state functions as an army and tax mechanism, not as a development project.

This perspective is needed by the author to further discuss Russia as an heir not of “European” imperial practices, but of the Horde matrix.

Horde matrix in the Russian political model

Centralization as a cult, verticality as a habit

The column draws a line from the Horde to Muscovy, then to the Russian Empire and the USSR — and further to modern Russia. Not as a direct historical “copy,” but as a reproducible scheme: the ruler is declared the source of law and morality, and the state exists as a vertical of subordination.

For Lakomov, this is not just journalism about “authoritarianism.”

It is an attempt to explain the resilience of the system through historical habit: power is not limited by institutions, it stands above them.

Army and “tribute” as tools of governance

The second link is exploitation and militarization.

The author describes a model where the army is needed not only for external expansion but also for internal control. And regions and dependent territories are perceived as a source of resources: people, money, raw materials, loyalty.

This motif in the text is deliberately brought from the past to the present — as an explanation of why imperial policy is repeated “geography by geography,” regardless of the era.

At this point, the editorial NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency notes an important nuance for the reader in Israel: such historical frameworks in the Ukrainian discussion are often used not for academic purposes, but as a language of mobilization — to explain why compromise with the imperial project is perceived in Kyiv as a dangerous pause, not as peace.

Isolation and ideology of the “special path”

Another element that Lakomov associates with the Horde legacy is civilizational isolation: opposition to the West, distrust of law and freedoms, prioritization of “force” over rules.

In his description, the ideology of the “Russian world” acts as a hybrid — sacralization of power plus centralism plus rejection of modern individualism. Not by chance, but as a repeatable construction.

The column does not argue with opponents and does not try to be “soft.”

It states: empires do not disappear — they change language and packaging.

Ukraine, Israel, and the Global South: where a common plot arises

Why this is read more broadly than a “European war”

One of the strong lines of the text is the attempt to “translate” the Ukrainian experience into a language understandable to the countries of Africa and Asia: Ukraine is formally European, but its historical experience, according to the author, is colonial.

Not Britain and not France, but an empire that grew out of the Horde type of control.

In this framework, the idea of solidarity appears: between those who experienced colonialism as modernization and those who experienced it as degradation — destruction of institutions, resource extraction, suppression of subjectivity.

For Israel, there is a separate interest here: the country lives in a region where “imperial” models of behavior constantly return in a new form — through proxies, ideologies, military chains of influence. And therefore, any understandable explanatory schemes quickly become part of the public conversation, even if they are controversial.

Memory as an element of political resistance

Lakomov’s final thought revolves around memory.

Not as a museum theme, but as a practical tool: if an empire knows how to transform, then resistance begins with recognizing familiar mechanisms — verticality, sacralization, “right of force,” colonial language.

In this construction, Ukraine is shown not only as an object of pressure but as a “mirror” in which the colonizer sees its own model — and therefore tries to destroy the alternative.

The text leaves an open question, which is probably the main one: if the Horde matrix is indeed reproduced for centuries, then where is the boundary between reforming the imperial project and its next disguise — and who in the world is ready to name this boundary aloud.

Those who claim that “Israel is not obliged to help Ukraine” and that “every country has its own interests” should remember the consequences of such thinking at the Evian Conference, held from July 5 to 16, 1938.

The fates of European Jews, whom the Third Reich had already deemed “subhumans,” were on the agenda.

In July 1938, U.S. President Roosevelt convened an international conference to promote and finance the emigration of “political refugees.”

But Hitler, before the ovens of Auschwitz began operating, offered the world community to take the Jews and watched with interest to see how it would end.

Representatives from 32 countries participated in the conference. These were countries from Western Europe (Hungary was the only representative from Eastern Europe), North and South America, as well as Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, 24 Jewish and international humanitarian organizations, including the Joint, the Jewish Agency, and the World Jewish Congress, sent their delegates to Evian.

The situation at the start of the conference was previously described by Chaim Weizmann:

“The world is divided into two parts – those places where Jews cannot live, and those where they cannot go.”

None of the countries participating in the Evian Conference were to be forced to increase their immigration quotas – it was solely about voluntary agreement to accept more Jewish refugees.

However, Switzerland, strictly maintaining neutrality, refused to host the conference, so it was held in France. Due to the annexation of Austria in March 1938, the number of potential Jewish victims of the Nazi regime significantly increased. Many Jews had already been expelled from Germany and Austria, and now Jews from Czechoslovakia were in danger.

The conference participants expressed sympathy for the suffering Jews but made no commitments. The U.S. did not want to increase immigration quotas due to anti-Semitic sentiments in Congress and fears of job competition. Britain could not accommodate refugees on its territory, and Eretz-Israel was excluded due to the Arab uprising.

Some countries stated they had already accepted as many as they could, while others refused due to the economic crisis and unemployment. As a result, only the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica agreed to accept refugees, although only about 500 people ended up in the Dominican Republic.

Israeli leaders of the time, Chaim Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion, were also against Jews entering Western countries. They hoped that restricting entry to other countries would force Britain to open Jewish emigration to Palestine.

The outcome of the conference quite suited Hitler, who sarcastically remarked:

“I hoped that the world, which feels such deep sympathy for these criminals [Jews], would at least be generous enough to turn this sympathy into practical help.”

The refusal to accept Jews was considered a grand victory for the German propaganda machine.

Golda Meir, who was at the forum, later described the events in her book “My Life”:

“I was there in the strange capacity of a ‘Jewish observer from Palestine’ and even sat not with the delegates but in the hall, although the refugees in question belonged to my people, to my family, and were not an unwanted number to be squeezed into a quota if at all possible.

It was a terrible thing – to sit in a luxurious hall and listen to the delegates of thirty-two countries explain in turn that they would like to accept a significant number of refugees but, unfortunately, are unable to do so.”

In an interview with journalists, Golda Meir added:

“I want to see only one thing before I die: that my people no longer need expressions of sympathy.”

The Evian Conference, which took place in July 1938, had serious consequences for the Jewish population of Europe. Not wanting to exacerbate their internal problems and fearing confrontation with the Nazi regime, the civilized international community failed to save millions of people, only postponing a world war indefinitely. Less than six months after the conference, Kristallnacht occurred, resulting in many Jews being killed, others arrested, and sent to concentration camps.

The historical lesson that can be drawn from the events of the Evian Conference should be taken into account by NATO in 2023. It is especially important to understand that the desire to avoid expanding the conflict when war is already underway can lead to a global conflict. NATO is currently providing material and tactical assistance to Ukraine but is not opening a second front against Russia.

Russian experts gleefully noted that the NATO summit communiqué paid little attention to Ukraine, with no clear promise of further material and financial support. They question whether only Ukraine has been “abandoned” or if it faces an even harsher fate in a world war.

Those who claim that Israel is not obliged to help Ukraine and that every country has its own interests should remember the consequences of such thinking at the Evian Conference. The Netherlands, London, France, Belgium, the USA, and other countries suffered damage from Nazi Germany.

This conference was recognized as a shameful page in Western history and serves as a lesson that by rejecting people in distress, states bring trouble upon themselves.

However, the Israeli government has not yet learned the lessons from the history of its people.

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Evian Conference – Material from Wikipedia — the free encyclopedia

On December 16, 2025, in Kyiv, at the Institute of World History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, an International Scientific Conference “Peculiarities of the Formation of Holocaust Scientific Discourse in European Countries“ took place. The forum brought together historians, memory researchers, representatives of the academic community, and international organizations working to preserve the historical truth about the Catastrophe of European Jewry.

The conference became part of a broader process of rethinking the role of the Holocaust in modern European and world historical science — especially against the backdrop of new political challenges, attempts to revise history, and growing interest in national models of historical memory.

How the scientific conversation about the Holocaust is changing in Europe and the world

One of the central topics of discussion was the theoretical and methodological foundations of Holocaust research in the 21st century. Participants analyzed how the modern scientific and socio-political discourse of memory is formed in Western Europe, North America, Israel, and Eastern Europe.

Special attention was paid to the differences in research approaches. While Western schools of historical science have traditionally focused on the institutional mechanisms of Nazi extermination policies, Eastern European studies increasingly raise questions of local experience, regional memory, and the consequences of totalitarian regimes for post-war society.

Sources of memory and the role of international justice

During the plenary session, key sources for studying the Holocaust were discussed — archival documents, oral testimonies of survivors, court materials, and international research conducted in Ukraine, the USA, Poland, France, Switzerland, and the UK.

A separate block of discussions was devoted to the impact of international justice on preserving the memory of the victims of Nazi terror. Experts emphasized that the legal assessment of 20th-century crimes remains an important tool against historical denial and political manipulation of the past.

It is precisely such scientific platforms that form a sustainable space for historical dialogue, which is regularly written about by NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency, drawing attention to the connection between Ukrainian, European, and Israeli experiences in preserving the memory of the Holocaust.

Babi Yar as a symbol of the struggle for historical truth

One of the notable presentations at the conference was the report by Vladislav Grinevich, regional manager of the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter (UJE) in Ukraine and a graduate student at the Department of World History at Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University.

His research was dedicated to resisting the Soviet policy of silencing the tragedy of Babi Yar — one of the key symbols of the Holocaust in Eastern Europe.

The report was based on a historiographical analysis of the collective monograph “Babi Yar: History and Memory”, prepared by an international group of researchers with the support of UJE. Work on the book began back in 2015 as part of the preparation for the 75th anniversary of the Babi Yar tragedy, held in Kyiv in September 2016.

The value of the publication lies not only in the international composition of the authors — scientists from Ukraine, Canada, the Netherlands, the USA, Israel, and France. The main result was an attempt to form a specifically Ukrainian view of the history of Babi Yar as part of the pan-European tragedy of the 20th century.

The study emphasizes an important historical thesis: responsibility for the tragedy was considered in the context of the actions of two totalitarian systems — the Nazi and Stalinist regimes. Although Nazi Germany was the immediate organizer of the Holocaust, the political processes that led to the war accelerated the catastrophe of European Jewry.

The voice of a witness: the speech of Boris Zabarko

A special place in the program was occupied by the speech of Boris Zabarko — a well-known Ukrainian historian, Holocaust researcher, and former ghetto prisoner, whose personal biography is directly connected with the tragic events of World War II.

For decades, Zabarko has been collecting testimonies of survivors — former ghetto and Nazi concentration camp prisoners, war children, and witnesses of the destruction of Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. His works have become an important part of international Holocaust research, as they bring back into historical science the voices of people long excluded from the official Soviet historical narrative.

The historian’s speech combined academic analysis and personal experience of the tragedy. For conference participants, it was a reminder that the study of the Holocaust goes far beyond a scientific discipline and remains a moral obligation of modern society.

International cooperation and the future of memory research

The conference in Kyiv demonstrated the growing integration of Ukrainian Holocaust studies into the global scientific context. Participants emphasized the need for further international cooperation, exchange of archives, joint publications, and educational programs.

A symbolic moment of the event was the presentation by Vladislav Grinevich of books published with the support of UJE to Boris Zabarko — a distinguished figure in science and technology of Ukraine, former prisoner of the Sharhorod ghetto, and long-time chairman of the All-Ukrainian Association of Jews — former prisoners of ghettos and Nazi concentration camps.

Such scientific meetings confirm: the memory of the Holocaust remains not only a part of the past but also an important element of modern European identity. The study of the tragedy, preservation of testimonies, and open academic dialogue become key conditions for preventing the repetition of crimes by totalitarian regimes in the future.

On the night of February 26, 2026, Russia conducted one of the largest combined attacks in recent months, simultaneously using missiles of various types and hundreds of strike drones. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa region, Poltava region, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk, and several other regions of Ukraine were under attack.

According to Ukrainian military and local authorities, the attack continued throughout the night and effectively transitioned into the morning hours, which has become a characteristic tactic of pressure on the country’s air defense system and energy infrastructure.

How the night attack developed: drones, missiles, and strategic aviation

Launch of ‘Shaheds’ and the flight of strategic bombers

The first alarm signals appeared at night when the Ukrainian Air Force detected the movement of strike drones from the northern and eastern directions. The drones moved along several routes — towards Kharkiv, Poltava, Chernihiv region, as well as across the Black Sea to the southern regions.

Around two in the morning, monitoring channels reported the takeoff of Russian strategic bombers Tu-95MS and Tu-160 from the ‘Engels’ and ‘Olenya’ airfields. Such flights traditionally indicate preparation for long-range missile launches.

Almost simultaneously, air alarms covered a significant part of Ukraine’s territory. Air defense forces began operations in several regions, and residents were urged to stay in shelters.

Strikes on cities and residential infrastructure

One of the most indicative episodes was a drone strike on a residential building in Kryvyi Rih. The drone hit a five-story building, damaging the structure and breaking windows. According to preliminary data, elderly residents of the city were injured.

In Kharkiv, the attack was of a combined nature — missiles and drones flew over the city simultaneously. Explosions were recorded in the Shevchenkivskyi, Kyivskyi, and Slobidskyi districts. Residential buildings, civilian infrastructure, and enterprises were affected. Among the injured were children.

Zaporizhzhia also came under massive attack. Both apartment buildings and the private sector, commercial facilities, and elements of urban infrastructure were damaged. Regional authorities reported dozens of damaged buildings.

Such attacks, aimed simultaneously at different regions, are seen by analysts as an attempt to overload the air defense system and create maximum pressure on the country’s energy sector.

In the midst of the events, the editorial team of NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency notes: the nature of the shelling increasingly resembles a strategy of systematic exhaustion of infrastructure rather than separate military operations.

Geography of strikes: from Kyiv to southern Ukraine

Kyiv and region under missile threat

In the capital of Ukraine, the consequences of the attack were recorded in several districts. In the Darnytskyi district, apartments in a residential building were damaged due to falling debris, fires broke out in garages in the Holosiivskyi district, and a private house caught fire in the Pecherskyi district.

In the Kyiv region, destruction and fires occurred in the Vyshhorod and Brovary districts. Warehouses, private houses, and cars burned after the fall of debris from downed targets.

In the morning, the attack continued — the military warned of new missile launches from Russian territory and the threat of repeated drone strikes.

Strikes on energy and industrial facilities

Special attention during the attack was focused on energy infrastructure. In the south of the Odesa region, a strike on an energy facility was recorded, confirming ongoing attempts to disable systems providing electricity and heat to the regions.

In the Poltava region, industrial enterprise facilities and power lines were damaged. More than 18,000 household consumers and almost two thousand enterprises were temporarily left without electricity.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, attacks continued almost all night. The Nikopol district and Kryvyi Rih direction were under attack, where houses, cars, and even solar panels were damaged — a rare but indicative episode of impact on alternative energy.

Scale of the attack and Kyiv’s reaction

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that 420 drones and 39 missiles of various types, including ballistic ones, were launched across the country. Destruction was recorded in at least eight regions, and dozens of people were injured.

According to him, strikes were also made on gas infrastructure and electrical substations, which directly affects the stability of the energy system in the winter period.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that air defense forces managed to destroy a significant number of targets: dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones were intercepted. However, it was not possible to completely avoid hits — direct strikes and falling debris were recorded at dozens of locations.

The military emphasizes that the attack is effectively ongoing, as separate groups of drones remain in the airspace.

The situation confirms the trend of recent months: Russia increasingly uses high-density combined strikes, trying to simultaneously impact energy, cities, and the psychological resilience of Ukraine’s population.

There are films that you don’t need to “pick apart” — you just recognize yourself from the first minute.
The family comedy “NU MAM” is just like that: about our childhood, our families, our love — funny, very human, and at times painfully familiar.

The film was made in Ukraine during the war. It’s not a “heavy war movie,” but a warm story that supports and embraces — that’s why you want to watch it in a theater, next to your loved ones.

Screening organizer – Created in Ukraine.

Screenings will be held in Ukrainian with English subtitles.
Age restriction: 12+.
Duration: 90 minutes.

What “NU MAM” is about — and why it’s so recognizable

The film consists of several stories that intertwine with each other. Each one is about different types of relationships between mothers and children: from childhood to adult life, when you seem independent, but the bond with your mother remains the strongest.

This movie is about moments that everyone knows:

• when you say: “Maaam, don’t start,” and realize it’s already too late;

• when the call “Have you eaten?” comes exactly when you’re on a date, at work, on the road — anywhere but “in the kitchen”;

• when care turns into a superpower that works even at a distance — across cities, countries, and thousands of kilometers.

The main emotion here is warmth. The comedy is not about “perfect people,” but about real ones: a little funny, stubborn, touching. About how we grow up, argue, try to be independent — and still return to the most basic: to family.

Why this movie is good to watch in Israel

In Israel, the theme of “mom and distance” sounds especially recognizable — not only for Ukrainians. Here, half the country lives between two homes: parents in another city, children in the army, family scattered around the world, calls “how are you?” and “have you eaten?” — it’s almost a national genre of care.

For Ukrainians in Israel, this plot hits right in the heart: the war has once again made Ukraine part of everyday conversations, and the connection with loved ones — something to hold onto literally every day.

But for Israelis, this movie will also be close: it’s about family without gloss, about love that sometimes annoys but doesn’t let go. About mom’s anxiety, about the habit of controlling, about funny scenes where you recognize your kitchen, your voice on the phone, your “well, it started.”

That’s why such screenings often become not just a “trip to the movies,” but an evening “meeting place”: you leave the hall — and want to talk, smile, remember, and most importantly — call those who matter.

Who’s on screen and who made the film

Producer and idea author: Yevhen Taller
Director: Oleh Borshchevskyi
Production: KyivFilm
Screening organizer: Created in Ukraine

The film stars (among others): Ada Rogovtseva, Olesya Zhurakivska, Kateryna Kuznetsova, Olena Kravets, Hanna Kuzina, Oleksandr Yarema, Ostap Stupka, Roman Lutskiy, Dmytro Pavko, Natalia Sumska, Ahtem Seitablaiev, Oleh Panyuta and others.

Dates, cities, venues

March 5, 2026 (Thursday) — Haifa

Venue: Planet (Hall 17) in CineMall, Sderot a-Histadrut 55
Doors open: 18:45
Start: 19:00
Ticket price: 81–106 ₪

March 7, 2026 (Saturday) — Tel Aviv

Venue: Anis Cultural Center, Paamonit St. 9
Doors open: 20:00
Start: 20:45
Ticket price: 81–116 ₪

Screening organizer – Created in Ukraine. –  https://www.facebook.com/createdinUA

Tickets are already available –

https://showman.co.il/e/nu-mam-film/

Ukraine stood firm where most forecasts promised it a quick collapse. Despite pressure on the front, strikes on energy, and Russia’s demographic advantage, a strategic turning point in favor of Moscow never occurred. This is written by Rajan Menon, professor of international relations at the City College of New York and senior research fellow at the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia University, in a column for The Guardian.

The main thesis of the expert is that the war, conceived as a quick operation, turned into a protracted attrition for the Kremlin without a clear prospect of victory.

Ukraine refuted early predictions of defeat

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, many analysts expected Ukraine to fall within a few days. Russia’s population is more than three times that of Ukraine, GDP is about ten times higher, the army is significantly larger, and the arsenal of tanks, artillery, missiles, and aviation is greater.

“The Russian leadership, including Putin, expected the Ukrainians to capitulate, perhaps even to welcome Russian troops,” notes Menon.

Even the US and UK intelligence, which predicted the war itself, forecasted a quick Russian victory.

The reality turned out to be different.

It is estimated that Russian losses have reached 1.2 million people, including more than 200,000 confirmed deaths. Geolocation counts indicate nearly 24,000 units of destroyed, damaged, or captured equipment. These figures have been a shock to observers—and likely to Putin himself.

Winter, energy strikes, and civilian resilience

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the winter of 2022–2023 left millions of people without light and heat. The winter of 2025–2026 was even harsher—thousands of missiles and drones rained down on cities and power plants.

Ukraine objectively does not have enough air defense systems to fully protect all targets.

Nevertheless, as the expert notes, the same phrase is heard in the country: “We have no choice but to fight if we want to survive.”

This moral factor, according to Menon, became one of the key reasons for the disruption of Russian plans.

Drones and a new type of war

Menon emphasizes that the war on the battlefield has changed. Ukrainian drones deprived the Russian army of the ability to conduct classic large-scale armored breakthroughs.

Maneuverability in conditions of total surveillance and strike drones has become deadly dangerous.

Russian units have adapted: they use small infantry groups, motorcycles, cars, and even pack animals to reduce armored vehicle losses. However, the technological advantage in the field of drones, according to the expert, often remains with Ukraine.

Up to 60–70% of losses in this war are related to drones.

Ukraine also actively uses its own missile developments, including the modified “Dovgy Neptune” and other models, striking Russian command posts, airfields, and oil refineries. According to the publication, the defeats affected almost every second refinery, impacting the fuel market within Russia.

Sea drones and anti-ship missiles forced the Russian Black Sea Fleet to relocate its headquarters from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk.

In analytical reviews by Nikk News — Israel News | Nikk.Agency it is repeatedly emphasized that technological adaptation has become one of the key factors in the balance of power in this war.

Russia has not captured a single major city after Avdiivka

After taking Avdiivka in February 2024, Russia was unable to capture a single major city. Since 2024, its average daily advance in certain directions has been measured in tens of meters.

In a year, Moscow gained about 1.5% of Ukraine’s territory, losing tens of thousands of people monthly.

To annex the remaining part of Donbas, Russia needs to break through fortifications and storm the agglomeration of Sloviansk — Kramatorsk — Kostyantynivka. This requires resources that the Kremlin has not yet demonstrated.

Putin and the illusion of control

Menon suggests that Putin may understand the discrepancy between the generals’ reports and the real situation. Statements about “advancing along the entire front line” contrast with independent data.

The expert notes that proposals for partial settlement may be related to the realization of limited capabilities.

At the same time, despite societal fatigue, about 75% of Ukrainians, according to polls, reject the scenario of transferring territories to Russia that its army could not capture.

The conclusion of the analysis is as follows: Russia has not formally lost, its economy has not collapsed, military power remains significant. But there is no strategic victory, and the war has turned into an exhausting confrontation with no obvious way out.

This, according to the author, is the main paradox: understanding the limitations of his results, Putin continues a war for which the real chances of success were not initially calculated.