- October 8, 2026
- 2:04 pm
- World News
The new Israeli ambassador to Ukraine, Roi Rosenblit, shared his first impressions of Kyiv, military cooperation between the two countries, relations with Russia, the fate of Ukrainian grain, and the death of 14-year-old Israeli Daniel Umansky. A large interview with the diplomat was published by the Ukrainian publication ‘Glavcom’ on October 7, 2026. The ambassador was interviewed by journalists Nikolai Podveziany and Daniil Murinsky.
Author: Pavel Shveiko
The interview took place in the basement of the Israeli embassy in Kyiv — during an air raid alert. For the diplomat, who started working in August, Russian missile and drone strikes have already become part of the regular workday.
NANews selected the main points of the conversation, especially important for the Israeli audience.
Kyiv surprised the ambassador — almost Tel Aviv
Rosenblit was warned about the danger, missiles, and drones. But no one, according to him, prepared him for how beautiful and lively Kyiv would turn out to be.
The diplomat noted the architecture, cafes, clothing of the townspeople, and the desire of people to maintain their usual life. In terms of atmosphere and modern urban culture, he compared the Ukrainian capital to Tel Aviv.
At the same time, Rosenblit specifically noted how Ukraine is rethinking its own history, including the Soviet past and the crimes of the Holocaust.
Ukrainian Air Defense: Israel also has something to learn
One of the most substantial episodes was the conversation about air defense.
According to Rosenblit, in certain technological areas, Ukrainian specialists are already significantly ahead of the Israelis. American and European experts come to study Ukrainian developments.
For Israelis, accustomed to considering the ‘Iron Dome’ as a model of modern air defense, this is a remarkable acknowledgment. However, the ambassador did not promise deliveries of Israeli defense systems to Ukraine. He only confirmed the ongoing dialogue, reminding that both countries face threats related to Iran.
Russia: diplomatic relations are maintained
When asked why Israel continues to maintain relations with Moscow, Rosenblit replied that diplomacy involves contacts even with states with which there are serious disagreements.
The ambassador himself previously worked in the Russian capital but emphasized that this stage of his career ended before 2014.
There was no direct answer to the question of whether Russia can be considered an enemy of Israel. This is especially noticeable against the backdrop of Moscow’s cooperation with Tehran and the use of Iranian-origin drones by the Russian army against Ukrainian cities.
Daniel Umansky: a tragedy that affected both countries
Rosenblit spoke in detail about the assistance to the family of 14-year-old Daniel Umansky, who died on September 25 in Kyiv from a Russian drone.
The diplomat communicated with the school leadership and the boy’s teachers. The Israeli embassy, together with the Ukrainian authorities, including the Office of the First Lady, was involved in organizing the transportation of the body for burial in Israel.
NANews previously reported on Daniel’s last homework, dedicated to Vladimir Monomakh — a prince of Kievan Rus, also known for his teachings on morality and responsibility.
The ambassador also reported on a new Israeli initiative — a kindergarten project that should help Ukrainian children grow and learn in wartime conditions. Specific timelines have not yet been named.
In this conversation, NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency sees an important human side of the embassy’s work: behind diplomatic relations are families, schools, and children whose lives are being destroyed by the Russian war.
Uman, grain, and questions without definitive answers
Assistance to Uman — a Ukrainian city where tens of thousands of Breslov Hasidim come annually for Rosh Hashanah to pray at the grave of Rabbi Nachman — was discussed separately. Israel received requests for generators, protective and rescue equipment, but did not manage to fulfill them by the holiday. Work, according to the ambassador, continues.
Regarding the scandal with the alleged Russian export of Ukrainian grain from occupied territories, Rosenblit reported that the disputed cargo left Israel, and importers refused to purchase grain when there were suspicions of its illegal origin.
When asked about the extradition of Timur Mindich and Alexander Zuckerman, wanted by the Ukrainian side in a corruption case, the diplomat did not give a specific answer, citing legal procedures.
From the attack on Flydubai to the memory of October 7
The ambassador also spoke about the attack by the second pilot on the commander of the Flydubai flight heading to Israel. According to his account, Israeli passengers helped prevent a plane catastrophe with 174 passengers. The affiliation of the attacker to a terrorist organization had not been established at the time of the conversation.
Recalling the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Iraqi missile strikes in 1991, and the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, Rosenblit explained why Israelis are able to understand the Ukrainian experience of living under shelling.
Perhaps this interview is interesting for this reason: the ambassador talks about the closeness of the two peoples, acknowledges Ukrainian technological achievements, but at the same time shows how cautious Israel’s official position remains on the most controversial political issues.
Previously, NANews wrote about Roi Rosenblit’s negotiations with the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry before the UN General Assembly. The new interview allows for a better understanding of the agenda with which the diplomat begins his work in Kyiv.
The full conversation of Roi Rosenblit with Nikolai Podveziany and Daniil Murinsky can be read in the original in Ukrainian in the publication ‘Glavcom’.