Ukraine's ambassador: Israel is deporting dozens of refugees

He expressed his disappointment at the lack of support given the role Ukrainians played in rescuing Jews from the Holocaust, and UKRAIN'S stance as a staunch ally of the Zionist regime.

Korniychuk said that dozens of Ukrainian nationals had arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport and were sent back despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the Russian invasion.

“I am trying to be diplomatic,” the envoy said. “My family is partially in Ukraine. We definitely need more help, and we have received more help from other partners in the world than [from] Israel. But we hope that decisions will be taken and there will be more aid from Israel in the coming days. We were disappointed yesterday by the decision of the minister of interior that explained that they will not allow Ukrainian refugees to come to Israel.

“We believe that you remember the times of the Second World War, when Ukrainians were saving the lives of Jews during the Holocaust. Ukraine is in fourth place, with almost 4,000 people who have been called Righteous Among the Nations. And while we saved Jewish lives in that time, we are asking you to help the Ukrainians to overcome this tragedy now.”

The ambassador said he had spoken with Israeli officials and urged them to reconsider the current policy. The ambassador said that Israeli officials were asking for bonds of up to NIS 20,000 to allow someone to remain in the country, money that none of these refugees have.

Korniychuk told reporters that he understood Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s offer to mediate had not been accepted, and that Russia was not serious about ceasefire talks. The diplomat said he believed talks in Belarus were a ruse to distract from Russia’s continued military engagement.

“Two parties are needed for mediation, and now there is only one party that wants talks and that is Ukraine,” he said, adding that this is why the situation has escalated.