Jewish News You Must Know About the Russia-Ukraine War

First Israeli casualty in Ukraine confirmed.

By Pesach Benson, United With Israel

Talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations began at the Belarus border but fighting continues. Social media photos and videos indicated particularly heavy shelling on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

The European Union agreed to provide Ukraine with military aid — the first time the EU has ever sent arms to a conflict zone.

Reports from Russia say there have been widespread runs on banks as the West ramped up sanctions. As many as 3,000 Russians have been detained for protesting the war.

Israel and the Jewish world are closely watching the unfolding events. There is concern for the fate of thousands of Ukrainian Jews and Israeli nationals still in Ukraine, as well as the war’s unfolding strategic implications.

Here’s a quick hit look at the Jewish news you need to know about the war and its fallout.

• BREAKING NEWS: The Foreign Ministry confirmed to the Jerusalem Post the first Israeli casualty in Ukraine. Bila Tserkva was killed in shelling near Kyiv.

• Although Israel is not sending weapons to Ukraine, Israeli-made weapons are still on their way to the conflict zone. EU military assistance includes a Dutch-German contribution of 50 Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank weapon systems with 400 rockets, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The shoulder-launched Panzerfaust 3 is manufactured by Nobel Defense, a German subsidiary of Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense System.

“Germany did not need to ask for Israel’s approval to transfer the weapons because the plant in Burbach was only acquired by Rafael in 2004, and Berlin had been financing the development of the weapon since it was first introduced in 1973,” the Post explained.

• Russia detained an Israeli sailor aboard a Ukrainian ship in Romanian territorial waters on Saturday, Ynet reported on Monday. The sailor is identified as Yuri Shvidecki and the Foreign Ministry is trying to arrange his release.

Ynet didn’t indicate the name of the ship or the number of other sailors, but it did report that vessel was transporting corn.

• After several days of neutrality, Israel will support a resolution in the UN General Assembly condemning Russia’s invasion, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said. General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, but the overwhelming support for it is expected to isolate Moscow diplomatically.

The vote is due to take place later on Monday.

• Despite the Ukraine war, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will make a surprise visit to Israel on Tuesday, Kan News reported on Monday. The visit will be his first to Israel since succeeding Angela Merkel in December.

• An Israeli hospital set up an innovative telemedicine site at the Moldova-Ukraine border for on-the-spot examinations, tests and analysis.

• Since Russia’s invasion, 4,500 Israeli nationals have fled Ukraine, with 2,000 managing to evacuate in the last 48 hours, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry. But officials in Jerusalem estimate another 7,000 are trapped along with nearly 4,000 relatives who are not Israeli nationals.

Israel’s Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky confirmed to Ynet that dozens of dual-national males ages 18-60 have not been permitted to leave Ukraine.

• The Interior Ministry announced on Sunday it will not take action against Ukrainian nationals illegally in the country “pending clarification of the situation in their home country.” The ministry will also uniformly extend the stay permits of Ukrainian tourists an additional two months.

According to Haaretz , around 7,200 Ukrainians are currently in Israel without permits, making up one-quarter of all foreign nationals illegally in the country.

• A former IDF soldier is helping the Ukrainian army and training people in Uman.

• According to the Israeli cybersecurity firm Check Point Software, cyber attacks on Ukraine’s government and military sectors have risen 196% since the invasion began on Thursday. Similar attacks on Russia have risen 4%.

• Channeling Israel, Europe Bans Russian Media.