Israel expelled a propagandist from the Russian Federation who called himself a Ukrainian journalist in a conversation with Makarevich – media

A scandal has erupted in Israel involving a Russian citizen who posed as a Ukrainian journalist. A forged press ID, a fake news agency, and a bizarre “mission about Gaza” — all turned out to be part of a failed provocation targeting well-known musician and outspoken Kremlin critic Andrei Makarevich and his wife Einat Klein.

How it started: a disturbing message from a “Ukrainian journalist”

On May 22, Makarevich wrote on his Facebook page that a man who introduced himself as a journalist from “UNIAN” had contacted his wife. The man spoke perfect Russian, introduced himself as Roman Skyba, and insisted on a meeting and interview. However, certain red flags soon emerged:

• The press ID was allegedly issued by the Zaporizhzhia City Council archive,
• It contained major grammatical errors in Ukrainian,
• The agency was listed as “Union” instead of “UNIAN” (a ridiculous mistake — ed.).

Einat Klein, Makarevich’s wife, became suspicious and contacted UNIAN directly, which confirmed that they had never employed such a person.

The fake interview that led to detention

Makarevich reported the incident to Israeli police, who quickly detained two Russian nationals. One was identified as Roman Skyba, while the other remains unidentified. According to Newsru.co.il, both were forced to leave Israel.

Israeli law strictly prohibits foreign journalists from working in the country without official accreditation. Moreover, impersonating someone else is a direct violation of the law. These violations led to swift and firm action by law enforcement.

Who is Roman Skyba really?

On May 22, 2025, Russian outlet “Agency. News” reported that the fake journalist from the Ukrainian UNIAN agency was likely an editor for Russian propaganda channels NTV and Channel One. It was also revealed that Skyba obtained a Russian passport in 2023.

An investigation by “Agency” uncovered striking details:

He also held access passes to film sets, including at the Maxim Gorky Film Studio in Moscow. This suggests potential official ties to Russian state media.

Israel’s response and its importance for Ukraine–Israel relations

The swift response of Israeli authorities shows that the country does not tolerate violations, especially when it involves provocation and invasion of privacy.

The incident involving Roman Skyba is another reminder of the methods used by Russian propaganda, which often hides behind the identities of other nations, including Ukraine. Israel demonstrated that it will not be a refuge for such tactics.

This case highlights the importance of strong ties and mutual trust between Israel and Ukraine — something we at NAnews — Israel News cover regularly.

Makarevich: “It smelled like a KGB office”

Makarevich admitted that after Skyba said he was “working on the Gaza agenda,” everything became clear:

“That reply reeked of a KGB office, so I immediately went to the police,” the musician wrote on Facebook.

Why it matters

For readers of NAnews — Israel News, especially Israelis of Ukrainian descent, this case raises concern. It confirms that hybrid warfare is being waged not only on battlefields but also in the information space. The use of fake IDs and disinformation tactics are dangerous tools that must be countered decisively and consistently.

NAnews — Israel News will continue monitoring the situation and providing verified updates on similar attempts at interference.