“When the Russians came, they didn’t take him prisoner — they just shot him in the back.”

Journalists from “Shomrim” are keeping a list of Israelis (specifically with Israeli citizenship – ed.) who have died or gone missing in Ukraine. Names are not published. As of January 5, 2025, there are reportedly 12 people on this list.

“The fate of these Israeli citizens does not resonate in Israeli society, — … — This is an issue that is almost never raised, if at all.”

According to the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, at least 12 Israeli citizens are currently considered missing or held in Russian captivity in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

This was reported on January 5, 2026 by the Israeli platform N12 Mako, citing the investigative project “Shomrim”.

The Israeli investigation emphasizes that these are mostly people with dual citizenship (Israel–Ukraine), and the estimate may be understated.

According to this data, it mainly concerns those who fought in the ranks of the Ukrainian army. A smaller part, as stated in the material, found themselves in combat zones under different circumstances, and the fate of these people remains unknown.

Why “at least” is an important caveat

The authors of the investigation explain: authorities often do not have systematic information about dual citizenship, so cases that “fall out” of the records are almost inevitable. Not all Israelis with Ukrainian roots who were mobilized or volunteered notified Israeli or Ukrainian authorities about their status — hence the conclusion that the actual number may be higher.

Indirect confirmation of the “blind spot” is provided through the words of Israel’s ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky: according to him, the embassy often learns about the participation of Israelis in the war only after their death, after which it helps with funerals and the return of bodies to Israel.

Visit of the Ukrainian delegation to Israel and confirmation of “at least 8”

In early December, according to the investigation, an official Ukrainian delegation visited Israel — amid Kyiv’s attempts to engage Israel in more active support. Among the participants was Yulia Pavlyuk, head of one of the regional directorates of the Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners. At a conference in Tel Aviv, she mentioned that among Israelis there are those who died, were captured, or went missing.

After these words, journalists contacted the Ukrainian embassy in Israel. There, it is claimed, they confirmed: it concerns at least eight missing Israelis, but “by all estimates” the number is higher — precisely due to incomplete accounting of dual citizenship.

“Those who are missing can remain without status for months”

The investigation separately emphasizes that information about prisoners and missing persons in this war is often fragmentary: months, and sometimes longer, may pass without clarity on what happened to a person at the front. Reports of the deceased sometimes appear only from the stories of comrades-in-arms.

The story of an Israeli “A.” from Ashdod, who has been fighting since the first day of the full-scale invasion, is given. Earlier he wrote: “I was hardened in the crucible of Severodonetsk and Bakhmut”. His comrade, according to him, was wounded in heavy fighting near Bakhmut.

Then comes one of the harshest quotes of the material:

“When the Russians came in, they didn’t take him prisoner — they just shot him in the back.”

Israeli ID “in the frame” and the Kozlovsky case

Another interlocutor of the investigators is an Israeli who fought in the Ukrainian army and returned to Israel after October 7 to serve in the reserves. He says he heard of cases where Israeli-Ukrainians are held in Russian captivity, as well as “testimonies” of the release of certain individuals.

One of the examples given is Volodymyr Kozlovsky, captured in 2022 by forces supported by Russia. In a video shot before his release, he, as stated in the material, shows an Israeli ID, “waving” it in front of the camera.

Ukraine wanted Israelis to “hear” about Russian captivity

The December delegation, according to the text, hoped that the stories of Ukrainians who went through Russian captivity would resonate in Israel, especially against the backdrop of the experience of hostages from Gaza. The delegation included, among others, former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolayenko, who was previously held in Russia under harsh conditions, as well as other freed Ukrainians.

An official European source familiar with the organization of the visit claims: the Ukrainian side prepared the meeting program for weeks, but not a single official representative of Israel attended the central reception. Moreover, according to the source, a number of invited senior Foreign Ministry officials did not even respond to the invitations.

Political background: contacts with Moscow and Putin’s phrase about Hamas

The investigation presents this topic against the backdrop of recent weeks when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly praised his contacts with Vladimir Putin and held several phone conversations with him — despite Russia’s criticism of Israel during the Gaza war and after strikes on Iran.

Separately, an episode of Putin’s meeting with freed Israeli captives Alexander Trufanov, his mother Elena, and fiancée Sapir Cohen is cited, where the phrase was heard: “Your release was a humanitarian act on their part” — in the context of gratitude to Hamas’s political leadership.

The authors also claim that Israel did not publicly protest when Russia struck “Jewish targets” in Ukraine, including synagogues in Kyiv and Kherson.

Against this backdrop, Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk stated that he was surprised by Israel’s rhetoric, “especially considering October 7,” and added: “We need to stand on the right and moral side of history”. After these words, as stated in the material, he was summoned to the Israeli Foreign Ministry for a “talking-to.”

“Russian House” in Jerusalem and diplomatic symbolism

The investigation presents another contrast: during the same period when Israeli officials, according to the source, did not attend the Ukrainian event, senior Foreign Ministry representatives participated in events initiated by the Russian diplomatic mission — including a New Year’s reception at the Russian ambassador’s residence and the opening ceremony of the “Russian House” in Jerusalem (a cultural center managed by Moscow).

It is separately noted that many countries closed branches of the “Russian House” after the 2022 invasion, considering these structures as tools for strengthening Moscow’s influence and spreading propaganda. The state Russian company managing the network of such institutions has been under EU sanctions since July 2022.

“Welcome to Buchenwald”: what former Ukrainian prisoners told in Israel

One of the strongest fragments of the material is the testimonies of former Ukrainian prisoners, voiced in Israel.

Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Khilyuk, speaking at the “Anu” museum, said that upon being captured, a Russian guard patted him on the shoulder and said: “Welcome to Buchenwald”.

Khilyuk and his elderly father were detained in the first weeks of the 2022 invasion when they went out for groceries. Khilyuk himself spent more than three years in a Russian prison and described his experiences through beatings, hunger, and cold. His father, it is claimed, was subjected to a mock execution before his release.

Former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolayenko described the experience of captivity as: “Every day in captivity was like a whole life”. The material also notes that photos of many freed Ukrainian prisoners show signs of torture and extreme emaciation.

“This is almost unheard of in Israel”

One of the founders of the organization Israeli Friends of Ukraine Anna Zharova says in the material that Israel understands the nature of such crimes well and sees parallels:

“We understand how Hamas and the Russian Federation use the same methods… the same attitude towards people, the same torture”. She adds that she would like to see a meeting of freed Israeli hostages with Ukrainians who went through Russian captivity.

But her main complaint is about the silence surrounding the topic of Israelis missing on the Ukrainian front:

“The fate of these Israeli citizens does not resonate in Israeli society… this is a topic that is almost never raised, if at all”.

At the end of the publication, it is noted that an official comment from the Israeli Foreign Ministry had not been received by the time the material was published. m

NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency

Entering the churchyard of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, you immediately notice the beautiful mosaic depicting Ukrainian Zarvanitsky Mother of Godlocated directly opposite the main entrance to the temple.

It is surprising that this image ended up in such an important place, among the mosaics of other countries – as if the Virgin Mary, revered in Ukraine, suddenly found itself among all the great icons of the world.

What is she doing here, how did she appear?

Basilica of the Annunciation — (Hebrew: כנסיית הבשורה, Arabic: كنيسة البشارة, Greek: Εκκλησία του Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου) – this Catholic church was built over the site of the Annunciation – Christian tradition (Roman Catholic) claims that it was in this place (Joseph’s house) that the Archangel Gabriel informed the Virgin Mary that she would “conceive in her womb and give birth to Jesus Christ.”

Not to be confused with Church of the Annunciation over the source of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Nazareth, also known as the Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangel Gabriel over the Spring of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The largest Christian church in the Middle East. It has the honorary status of “minor basilica”, awarded to it in 1964 by Pope Paul VI. Place of Christian pilgrimage. The monks of the Franciscan order serve in the basilica.

The first mention of a church on this site dates back to 570, and the building was an altar in the Grotto of the Annunciation. More about long history of the church (for those interested) on Wikipedia.

The construction of the new basilica building, which still exists today, was completed in 1969 and the Basilica was consecrated on March 23, 1969.

The initiative arose after the Basilica of the Annunciation, built in modern style in 1969, opened its doors to mosaic icons from around the world.

The walls of the main hall of the upper part of the temple are decorated with images of the most important temples of the Virgin Mary in the world. But because the internal space of the basilica is obviously limited, we see only 17 images there, illustrating the reading of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the world.

Other (more than 50) images of different peoples and countries create a wonderful wreath in the outer gallery, surrounding the Nazarene Temple in a semicircle.

Noteworthy is the peculiarity of conveying the image of the Virgin Mary as it is perceived by artists of different nations and races.

The idea to create mosaic icon of the Zarvanitsky Mother of God belongs to representatives of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC).

Every country (Catholic churches – ed.) were invited to present their unique image of the Virgin MaryAnd Ukraine (UGCC), chose the Zarvanitsky Mother of Godwhich is one of the most revered shrines of the Ukrainian people (from Greek Catholics -ed.).

As a result of the pseudo-council in Lviv in March 1946 The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was liquidated on the territory of the USSR. A significant part of its property was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church, and believers and clergy were forcibly forced to renounce their church. The UGCC was legalized in Ukraine in 1989.

Entering the church yard to the main entrance to the Basilica, a beautiful mosaic of the Ukrainian Zarvanytsia Mother of God immediately catches your eye, to the right of the entrance.

We see a copy Zarvanitskaya Mother of Godframed by carefully selected Ukrainian landscapes, among images of two of the greatest Ukrainian churches: Kyiv St. Sophia and Lviv St. George.

Icon of the Zarvanitsa Mother of Godin question, represents an important religious symbol for Ukraine. It is located in Zarvanytsia (Ternopil region), on the territory of the holy complex of the same name, which is one of the main Christian pilgrimage sites in Ukraine. Dates from the middle of the 17th century. According to legend, there was also an image from the 13th century.

On both sides of the icon are two pairs of pilgrims in Poltava and Hutsul folk clothes – representatives of the Eastern and Western lands of Ukraine in bow to the Most Holy Zarvanitskaya Mother of God.

Above the mosaic picture we read the inscription: “For all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48), and under the image there is a pleading call: “Most Holy Mother of God, pray for Your Ukrainian people”. The origin of the icon is explained below in Latin: “Miracle-working Mother of God – Zarvanitsa – Ukraine”.

This one is wonderful The image of the Zarvanitsky Mother of God belongs to creativity sisters (religious institute – ed.) Vasily Chikalo (Vasiliya Chykalo – Ukrainian) (d. 2012), “Servants of the Immaculate Virgin Mary” (auto), natives of Podolia (Ukraine), who then lived in Poland.

The initiator and sponsor of this project, which was completed in the summer of 1976when Vasily Chikalo was in the Main House of the “Servant Sisters” in Rome, there was a father of holy memory (religious institute – ed.) Vasily Turkovid, priest of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in New Ulm in Germany.

He, together with the then “Proto-Archimandrite of the Basilian Order, Fr. Isidore Patril“, CHSVV (The Order of St. Basil the Great (lat. Ordo Sancti Basilii Magni), also ChSVV, the Basilian Order of St. Josaphat, the Basilian Fathers – one of the main monastic orders of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.), made great efforts to obtain this place of honor for Zarvanitsky Mother of God in Nazareth.

According to their instructions, Sister Servant Vasily Chikalo painted the image, and the mosaic itself was executed by a specialized Italian company in Milan under the careful supervision of Fr. Isidora Patrila.

What a story!

….

Read on WhatsApp – channel NAnews ↓ — Israel News

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With the onset of the full-scale war in Ukraine, Israel unexpectedly strengthened its position in the global arms market for many. Against the backdrop of revising defense doctrines, increasing military budgets, and searching for “proven solutions,” this country quickly became a key reference point for states facing new threats.

The picture seems contradictory only at first glance.

A Paradox That Is Not Accidental

Israel has lived under constant threat for decades. For it, war is not an abstract theory but an environment where technologies, tactics, and security approaches are formed. That is why the events in Ukraine did not become a catastrophe for the Israeli military-industrial complex but a factor accelerating already launched processes.

When European countries and Ukraine’s allies faced the reality of a protracted conflict, it suddenly became clear that old arsenals, paper concepts, and “peaceful planning” no longer worked. Systems tested not on training grounds but in real combat were needed.

Why Israel

The Israeli defense sector found itself in the right place at the right time. Its developments were initially created under the pressure of asymmetric threats: drones, missiles, hybrid attacks, cyber operations, strikes on infrastructure.

This is not a showcase but a survival experience.

Air and missile defense technologies, intelligence, early warning systems, electronic warfare — all of this became the subject of increased interest after 2022. And not only from Ukraine but also from EU countries, which suddenly realized their own vulnerability.

Catalyst, Not Cause

It is important to understand: the war in Ukraine did not create the Israeli defense boom from scratch. It only became a catalyst. Israel has invested for many years in research, dual-purpose startups, and the integration of the army and the private sector.

The Ukrainian front showed that the future of war is speed, data, adaptation, and targeted solutions. It is in these niches that Israel feels most confident.

New Opportunities — New Risks

The growth of influence inevitably brings complexities. Israel is forced to navigate between its own security interests, relations with the US, Europe, and the complex geopolitics of the region. Every supply, every contract is now considered through the prism of international consequences.

Nevertheless, the choice for many countries has already been made. In a world where war has once again become a planning factor, preference is given to those who know it from the inside, not from reports.

The Israeli defense breakthrough is not just about the economy. It is a reflection of a global shift where security has ceased to be a theory and has once again become a practice. And in this reality, Israel has become one of the most prepared players, as is increasingly written about today by NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.

War is once again changing the face of Europe — and not just on the fronts. Where slogans of tolerance and human rights once echoed, the whisper of old hatred is growing louder. Anti-Semitism — the ancient virus of the continent — is awakening again, rising from the underground layers of history to the streets of Berlin, Paris, and Brussels.

Mass rallies, synagogue arson, attacks on Jews — these are no longer frames from the archives of the 1930s, but the chronicle of European news in 2025.

But the reasons for what is happening are far more complex than just a political dispute over Israel’s war with Hamas. It is a reflection of a global shift — how Russia, Iran, and their ideological partners use anti-Israeli and anti-Western rhetoric to ignite Europe from within.

When Anti-Semitism Became “Fashionable” Again

In recent months, the level of anti-Semitic incidents in Europe has increased manifold.

In France — attacks on Jewish schools and cemeteries.
In Germany — threats against rabbis and Israeli students.
In the UK, police record a rise in hate crimes of more than 500%.

But the danger is not only in the numbers.

It is about a new form of old evil — anti-Semitism under the guise of political activism.

Today, hatred is often disguised as “fighting imperialism” or “solidarity with the oppressed.”
Yesterday it was called fascism, today — “anti-colonialism.”
The essence has not changed.

Many experts note: anti-Semitism today is not always expressed in insults.

It can hide behind slogans, behind “the fight for Palestine’s freedom,” behind artificial narratives that are implanted through social networks and propaganda.

This is where the main danger of the new wave lies.

Russia and Hamas — Different Fronts of One Ideology

In the Ukrainian context, the comparison of Russia and Hamas sounds particularly accurate.

Both structures operate on the same principle: terror as an argument.

Putin’s army destroys Ukrainian cities under the slogan of “liberation,” just as Hamas kills Israeli civilians, hiding behind “the fight for justice.”

This parallel is no accident.

Russia systematically builds ideological and informational ties with anti-Western forces in the Middle East.

Moscow justifies Hamas terror as a “reaction to Israeli aggression,” while in turn, it calls Russia’s war against Ukraine a “fight against Nazism.”

In fact, it is a common language of authoritarian regimes and extremist movements: everything is allowed if it can be called “resistance”.

Anti-Semitism as a Kremlin Tool

The Kremlin did not invent hatred — it learned to monetize it.

For years, Russian media structures have created pseudo-analysis where Israel and “Jewish influence” were presented as the cause of global injustice.

The same logic is used against Ukraine: “Western puppets,” “NATO accomplices,” “victims of Jewish capital.”

In essence, this is not just anti-Semitism, but a geopolitical technology.

It works on emotions, on fears, on the feeling of a “stolen identity.”

Radical Islamist propagandists operate in the same way, recruiting followers under the slogan of fighting “colonizers.”

These two streams — Russian imperialism and Middle Eastern fanaticism — merge into one: hatred of the West, Jews, and democracy.

Europe, Losing Its Immunity

Many European societies were not ready for this new form of old contagion.

After decades of peace and prosperity, control over the language of hatred has weakened.

Freedom of speech often becomes a cover for destructive narratives.

Social networks are filled with “anti-imperialist” blogs where Israel is called an “occupier” and Russia a “fighter against the West.”

Hundreds of such pages operate on the same servers, often funded from Moscow or Tehran.

Thus, anti-Semitism re-enters the mainstream — not through slogans of “beat the Jews,” but through words of “support Palestine.”

This makes it especially dangerous: a person can be a victim of propaganda without realizing that they are repeating the language of those who justify terror.

The Palestinian Narrative as a Mirror of Russian Aggression

When Hamas justifies attacks on Israel with slogans of “fighting occupation,” it is easy to recognize the Kremlin’s lexicon in these phrases: “denazification,” “liberation,” “historical territories.”

In both cases, violence is justified by a “higher goal.”

Authoritarian propagandists have learned to use the words “freedom” and “justice” as a smokescreen.

Russia justifies the killing of Ukrainians in the same way Hamas does Israelis.

The difference is only in scale: the methods are the same, the audiences different.

This is increasingly discussed in both Israel and Ukraine: terror, wherever it occurs, is always fueled by impunity.

The Ideology of Hatred and Western Fatigue

Modern Europe is tired of war.

But fatigue is the perfect ground for manipulation.

When people stop distinguishing shades, the slogan “for peace” can turn into a justification for terror.

In European universities, rallies “in support of Palestine” are held, where calls are made to “cleanse the land of Zionism.”

There is nothing humanitarian in these phrases — it is the language of hatred, only in a new wrapper.

Thus, anti-Semitism becomes acceptable again — if it is hidden under the guise of “justice.”

Ukraine, Israel, and the Moral Connection

Ukraine and Israel find themselves on the same side of reality, where terror is an ideology, and truth requires strength.

For Kyiv, it is obvious: when the West does not react to some manifestations of terror, it provokes others.

Unacknowledged evil grows faster than acknowledged.

Ukraine supports Israel in its fight against Hamas for a reason.

Both countries are targets of propaganda attacks, disinformation, and international pressure.

For both, the word “self-defense” has become not just a legal term, but a matter of survival.

How the Kremlin Plays on Anti-Semitic Sentiments

Russia actively implants anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli narratives in Western media.

Under the guise of “alternative viewpoints,” texts about “Jewish elites,” “Zionist control,” and “world conspiracy” are spread online.

These same theses were heard in the 1930s — only now, instead of newspapers, they are circulated by anonymous Telegram channels.

Often, anti-Semitism becomes a “byproduct” of pro-Russian propaganda.

Those who justify the war against Ukraine often use the same rhetorical constructions as anti-Semites: the search for an enemy, conspiracy theories, the cult of a “humiliated power.”

Why It Matters Now

Because history is knocking on Europe’s doors again.

Anti-Semitism is not just a problem for Jews. It is a litmus test of the state of society.

When hatred of Jews becomes the norm, it means the foundations of democracy are being destroyed.

Today’s cries in the squares “from the river to the sea” are not a slogan of freedom, but a warning.

And if Europe does not draw conclusions now, tomorrow this wave will engulf it itself.

What Can Stop the New Wave of Hatred

1. Strong government response.
States must qualify anti-Semitism as a threat to national security, not just as a hate crime.

2. Responsible media.
The media must stop equating the aggressor and the victim.
Terrorist organizations cannot be an “equal side of the conflict.”

3. Education and memory.
Europe cannot afford to forget where silence in the face of anti-Semitism has already led.
Every new case should be seen as an alarming signal, not as a “crowd excess.”

4. Solidarity of countries that know the price of terror.
Ukraine and Israel must remain allies — not only in politics but also in meanings.
Their experience of resisting terror is not two separate plots, but one line of defense of the civilized world.

Conclusion

Europe is once again at a crossroads.

On one side — fatigue, cynicism, false neutrality.
On the other — clarity: terror cannot be balanced, it must be stopped.

Russia and Hamas are two manifestations of one disease, which feeds on impunity and fear.

And while Europe seeks excuses for those who shoot at children, hatred continues to change flags, but not its essence.

Peace will begin where evil is no longer justified — under any slogans.

And if Europe wants to remain Europe, it will have to remember why it swore: never again.

The year 2026 may become the moment when the usual mechanisms of world governance cease to work. This conclusion follows from a large-scale forecast by the analytical publication Politico, which describes the near future as a period of deep geopolitical and financial upheavals. It is not about a series of separate crises, but about the overlay of conflicts, debts, and loss of trust — with a domino effect.

Ukraine: between the illusion of peace and the strategy of attrition

Despite Donald Trump’s loud statements about the ability to quickly stop the war, Politico analysts assess the reality much more harshly. They consider the likelihood of continued hostilities in 2026 to be four times higher than the chance of a quick end to the conflict.

For the Kremlin, a sharp exit from the war carries an existential risk. The economy and internal stability of Russia are largely tied to military mobilization and resource redistribution. A sudden peace could provoke an internal crisis for which the system is not ready.

Ukraine, in turn, enters 2026 with serious problems. A shortage of personnel, worn-out energy infrastructure, and constant strikes on the rear create an illusion for Moscow of the possibility to impose its conditions — weakening the Armed Forces of Ukraine and capturing new territories.

However, Russia’s own position remains unstable. High interest rates, a labor shortage in industry, and budget pressure form a debt loop that limits the ability to wage war indefinitely. The economic counterstrike may prove to be no less destructive than military failures.

Finances slip out of politicians’ control

One of the main actors of 2026, according to Politico, will not be presidents and governments, but bond markets. Analysts predict the return of so-called “bond vigilantes” — large investors who can punish states for irresponsible budget policies.

Even Trump at the beginning of his term was forced to adjust tariff plans under market pressure. The story of Liz Truss, who left the post of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 49 days after the bond collapse, is seen as a warning for the US, Japan, and European countries living with chronic deficits.

The debts of Western economies have reached a dangerous level amid weak productivity growth. Investor confidence is becoming fragile, and any wrong decision can trigger a chain reaction.

Political stability despite crises

Politically, Politico does not expect sharp tectonic shifts in key countries. Even against the backdrop of conflicts and internal tensions, the existing balance of power, according to analysts, will largely remain.

In Israel, the current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite public disputes, criticism, and protracted conflicts, remains the main contender for continuing his political career at the head of the government. His positions are assessed as stable.

A similar picture is painted for Hungary. Viktor Orban, despite opposition pressure and economic difficulties, still has enough support to win elections. His political system demonstrates high adaptability to crises.

In the US, on the contrary, the forecast is for the preservation of “divided power.” Democrats may regain control of the House of Representatives, while the positions of Republicans in the Senate look more solid and are likely to remain.

The banking system and the shadow of artificial intelligence

The global financial system is approaching a dangerous edge due to the rapid growth of private lending. Hedge funds and investment companies today control about 250 trillion dollars, operating outside of classical banking regulation.

If the private credit sector faces a serious shock, the consequences, according to Politico, could surpass the 2008 crisis. The situation is exacerbated by the “shadow banks’” bet on artificial intelligence. If the AI boom turns out to be a financial bubble, a chain reaction of bankruptcies will become almost inevitable.

In such a scenario, governments, especially populist ones, may simply lack the resources to save the system.

A year where old recipes don’t work

Politico’s forecast converges on one point: 2026 will be a test of strength for states, markets, and political models. Illusions of quick solutions disappear, and problems accumulated over decades surface simultaneously.

The world is entering a phase where the cost of mistakes rises sharply, and the room for maneuver shrinks. It is in this context that events around Ukraine, Israel, and the global economy will develop — processes that are systematically and closely monitored by NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.

Ukraine, being in a state of war, is not considered an attractive destination even in normal times — unless we talk about clubs like Dynamo Kyiv or Shakhtar Donetsk. However, their international reputation has declined in recent years.

Nevertheless, the Ukrainian league has become a popular destination for Israeli legionnaires and may play a role in the January transfer window, which opened this week.

The Israeli public is used to hearing about Oscar Gloukh, Anan Khalaili, and Manor Solomon, playing in Champions League teams; about Eli Dasa, who returned to the Netherlands; about Omri Gandelman, who played in Belgium for a long time; and also about Bibras Natcho, continuing his career in Belgrade’s “Partizan”. Meanwhile, the number of Israeli footballers in the USA is also growing.

However, this is only part of the overall picture, reported Israeli Ynet on January 3, 2025.

Players out of focus, but in the process of growth

The footballers discussed in this material do not play in clubs that are in the spotlight. However, according to the assessments of the participants in the process, the difference in level between the Ukrainian league and more prestigious championships is not significant, and the players themselves continue to advance in their careers.

Bar Lin and experience in “Kryvbas”

One example is Bar Lin, playing for Kryvbas, which at the time of publication is in fifth place in the Ukrainian championship.

The assistant coach of “Kryvbas” Uri David explains why he considers the Ukrainian league suitable for professional growth:

“Take, for example, our game against Donetsk’s ‘Shakhtar’ a few weeks ago. ‘Shakhtar’ has a Brazilian left-back, Federinho, whom, as far as I know, many Premier League clubs want to acquire.

Federinho played on the same flank against Bar — and Bar gave him worthy resistance. Bar has always been very technical, but not physically strong. Against Federinho, he already looked quite powerful. There is no doubt that during his time in Ukraine, he has toughened up.

Any talent can succeed here — provided he is a true professional, like Bar.”

Climate and working conditions

Bar Lin himself describes the conditions in Ukraine as follows:

“Last week I flew to Israel for a month-long vacation, and compared to Ukraine, I felt like I was in a microwave.
The temperature there is around zero or one degree, but it doesn’t interfere with our work.
I have definitely made progress in Kryvbas.”

Financial aspect

In some cases, moving to the Ukrainian league turns out to be beneficial financially. For example, Tomer Yosefi, playing for Polissya Zhytomyr, is estimated to earn about 400,000 euros a year — at the level of the league’s leading players, which is rare for the Israeli market.

Uri David notes:

“Perhaps Ukraine is experiencing financial difficulties now, but there is money for football here — because people love it.”

Conclusion

The Ukrainian league remains a challenging destination for foreign footballers. However, it continues to attract Israeli players, for whom this stage becomes part of professional development — out of the spotlight, but in conditions of constant competition.

NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency

And today in our section “Jews from Ukraine,” we will talk about Leo Motzkin — an outstanding public figure from Brovary, whose name is associated with the history of Israel and Ukrainian Jews.

Leo Motzkin (Aryeh Leib) was born in 1867 in Brovary, Kyiv province of the Russian Empire. In this small town, near Kyiv, he received a traditional Jewish education. In the late 19th century, Brovary had a large Jewish community.

Jewish Community of Brovary: History and Tragic Events

Brovary, a small town near Kyiv, has deep historical roots and significant Jewish heritage. Before World War II, it had one of the largest Jewish communities in the region. Jews began settling in Brovary in the second half of the 19th century, gradually migrating from the west after the partition of Poland. According to 1891 data, Jews made up 23.3% of the town’s population (888 people). Most were engaged in trade and crafts, actively participating in the town’s life. Brovary had a synagogue, Jewish schools, and public organizations.

The period from 1917 to 1921 was tragic for the Jewish community. During the revolution and civil war, Jews were subjected to brutal pogroms organized by various military formations: Denikin’s troops, Skoropadsky’s haidamaks, the Red Army. Many perished, and some residents left the town, emigrating to Kyiv or other safer places.

The Jewish population gradually decreased. If in 1923 there were 646 Jews living in Brovary, by 1939 their number had decreased to 458 people. World War II played a tragic role in the community’s history. From 1941 to 1943, almost all the town’s Jews perished on the fronts or were killed during the Nazi occupation. As a result of these events, the Jewish community of Brovary practically disappeared.

In the post-war years, a small part of the Jews returned to the town. In 1989, about 360 Jews lived there, but by 1999 only 110 people remained. The main reasons for the decrease were emigration to Israel and other countries, as well as the lack of conditions for community development.

Today, there are almost no direct traces left of the once numerous Jewish community in Brovary. However, its history lives on in the memory of descendants and those interested in the heritage of the Jewish people. Preserving this memory is important for future generations so that the rich culture and traditions of Brovary’s Jews are not forgotten.

To Berlin for Knowledge: A New Stage of Life

After completing his primary education, Leo Motzkin went to Berlin, where he studied mathematics and philosophy. It was in Berlin that his active public activity began. He became one of the founders of a scientific society that united students supporting the Hovevei Zion (Lovers of Zion) movement.

With the emergence of Theodor Herzl and the beginning of the Zionist movement, Motzkin became an active participant. He was a delegate to the First Zionist Congress in 1897 and advocated for a clear formulation of the movement’s goal — the creation of a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel.

First Trip to Eretz-Israel

On behalf of Theodor Herzl, Motzkin went to Eretz-Israel to assess the state of Jewish settlements. In his report, he criticized the settlement methods used by Baron Rothschild and the Hovevei Zion movement and insisted on the need for political negotiations with the Ottoman Empire.

This trip became a turning point in his activities. He realized that without political support, the creation of a Jewish state would be extremely difficult.

Important Steps on the International Stage

During World War I, Leo Motzkin headed the Copenhagen branch of the Zionist Organization. After the war, he became one of the founders of the Committee of Jewish Delegations at the Paris Peace Conference, where he defended the interests of world Jewry.

With the rise of the Nazis to power in Germany, he was the first to raise the issue of discrimination against German Jews at the League of Nations level. When this issue was removed from the agenda, Motzkin refused to cooperate with the organization but continued to provide political and financial support to the Jewish population of Germany.

Table: Key Stages of Leo Motzkin’s Life

Memory of Leo Motzkin

Leo Motzkin died in 1933 in Paris. His remains were reburied on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem in 1934. In memory of the outstanding figure, the Israeli city of Kiryat Motzkin was founded in 1934, named in his honor.

In 1933, it was decided in Haifa to create a new residential area for middle-class families. It was to be located outside the city but close enough for residents to commute to work daily. A plot of land in the Zevulun Valley was chosen for this purpose.

The new area was named after Aryeh Leo Motzkin — a well-known Jewish public figure and one of the founders of the World Zionist Congress. Thus, Kiryat Motzkin was founded in 1934 by Polish Jews. The first residents of the area were merchants and independent craftsmen.

The territory where the new settlement was located turned out to be sandy and swampy. The lands were undeveloped and dangerous due to the risk of malaria. Settlers were offered 400 plots of land on installment. The first residents had to work hard to turn the undeveloped area into a comfortable place to live. Thanks to their efforts, the area earned the nickname “Green Island”.

By 1940, the population of Kiryat Motzkin had already reached 2,000 people, and on June 11, 1940, a local council was established. Over the years, the area continued to develop. In 1976, when the population exceeded 25,000 people, Kiryat Motzkin officially received city status.

Kiryat Motzkin became a symbol of the memory of a man who dedicated his life to the struggle for Jewish equality, the promotion of Hebrew, and the creation of a Jewish state.

Conclusion

The story of Leo Motzkin is a story of the struggle for the rights of the Jewish people, the promotion of Hebrew, and the creation of a Jewish state. His contribution to the development of world Jewry is hard to overestimate.

Now, as you walk the streets of Kiryat Motzkin, remember that his name is associated with a person whose ideas and efforts laid the foundation for many of modern Israel’s achievements.

We, the team at NANews – News of Israel, are proud to share such important stories that unite the Jewish and Ukrainian peoples.

Read more stories about outstanding Jews connected with Ukraine and Israel in our section “Jews from Ukraine“ on the NANews website – #євреїзукраїни