Ukraine's ambassador to Israel on Tuesday said his government has requested from Israel the supply of an Iron Dome missile defense system and other defensive weapons needed to defend against the Russian invasion.
Russia invaded Ukraine late last February in the biggest military offensive in Europe since World War II.
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Ukraine ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuck in a press conference on Tuesday
(Photo: Yariv Katz)
Speaking at a press conference, Yevgen Korniychuk said Ukraine wants to "defend our citizens just as Israel defends its own against the Hamas."
Korniychuk said his government estimates some 40,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the war thus far, and that 12 million have left their homes in total, of whom five million have left the country and seven million were displaced despite remaining inside the country.
Korniychuk complained that only 10% of the protected gear, which Israel committed to supply Ukraine with, have been delivered, and that Jerusalem has refused to allow wounded Ukrainian soldiers in need of prothesis were waiting to enter Israel for treatment.
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Shipment of helmets vests and other protective gear loaded on flight to Ukraine
(Photo: Defense Ministry)
"Israel remains inside its comfort zone," he said. "Jerusalem must decide if it will stand with the just and democratic countries of the world."
"The people of Israel show much love and admiration for Ukraine and the government is also empathetic in its rhetoric but not in its actions," Korniychuck said.
He told reporters that after returning from a visit to Ukraine he found Israeli media was no longer reporting on the war. "This war is still continuing in full force and is no where near its end," Korniychuck said.
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Russia fires missiles at Kyiv on Monday after weeks of relative quiet in the Ukraine capital
(Photo: Reuters)
"The Russians our bombing our cities daily and slaughtering our people. Russian soldiers are committing war crimes on a daily basis, shooting at civilians, looting, torturing and raping our women and children," he said.
The ambassador said despite all that, he would like to thank Israeli individuals, as well as companies and organizations, who have been helping Ukraine since the war began.