Ukraine and Israel are fighting different wars, but face a common threat — The Jerusalem Post
Ukraine and Israel face different enemies and operate under different security conditions, yet both countries are confronted with similar threats—missile and drone attacks, strikes on civilian infrastructure, and the need to protect their populations. Yevhen Korniychuk, Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel, made these remarks in a column for The Jerusalem Post.
According to him, for Ukrainians, independence has long ceased to be merely a historical date. Every day, it is defended by soldiers on the front lines, medical personnel, critical infrastructure workers, teachers, and millions of civilians who continue to live under the threat of Russian attacks.
Kornichuk noted that during the first half of 2026, the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine rose sharply. In July, according to the UN, the highest number of civilian casualties in a single month since May 2022 was recorded.
The diplomat emphasized that Ukraine and Israel share similar experiences in countering air attacks. In both countries, people are woken by air raid sirens, hide their children in shelters, and are forced to return to their normal lives after nighttime missile and drone strikes.
At the same time, Korniychuk stressed that modern security threats are no longer limited by the borders of individual states. Russia uses missiles, drones, cyberattacks, disinformation, and strikes on civilian infrastructure, while Iran and the armed groups it supports pose similar challenges in the Middle East.
Separately, the diplomat drew attention to military cooperation among authoritarian states. According to him, Iranian Shahed drones have become one of the symbols of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and Russian troops are also using North Korean missiles. This indicates that military technology and expertise can spread rapidly across different regions of the world.
According to Korniychuk, Ukraine and Israel should deepen their practical cooperation in the areas of air defense, drone detection, critical infrastructure protection, emergency medical care, cybersecurity, and ensuring the resilience of civilian systems.
The diplomat emphasized that democratic states cannot view every war as a separate conflict, as threats are becoming increasingly interconnected.
“No one should be forced to give up their freedom simply because another regime believes that missiles, drones, and fear give it the right to determine the future of another country,” Korniychuk concluded.
As a reminder, Ukraine may lose access to U.S. weapons via Israel.
The United States and Israel are holding consultations on possibly increasing pressure on Iran, specifically by blocking its land borders. This scenario is being considered as part of broader measures to limit Tehran’s capabilities.
