- December 18, 2025
- 5:53 am
- Ukraine, Video
International Police Association awarded a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer
The International Police Association (IPA), uniting law enforcement officers from more than 70 countries, awarded its medal to an officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the call sign “Hasid”.
This was reported by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU) and the publication JewishNews on November 22, 2025.
The IPA decision emphasizes that the award was given for high professionalism, courage, and a special contribution to the defense of Ukraine.
For the Jewish community, this decision was significant: for the first time in a long time, a representative of Ukraine with Jewish heritage receives an international professional award specifically as a combat officer of the active army.
Who is “Hasid”: collected facts from open sources
There is little information about “Hasid” in the public domain — he consciously maintains anonymity. However, over the past years, his name (or rather, call sign) has repeatedly appeared in Ukrainian media and social networks.
Instructor and intelligence officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
In a report by Informator it is stated:
he does not show his face, his name is not disclosed — this is stated directly;
serves as an instructor on the front line;
trains infantry, mechanized units, and intelligence personnel;
has been working since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, often in areas of active combat.
Commanders commenting on his work noted that thousands of servicemen have gone through his training — social networks mention the figure “more than 8,000 students”.
Jewish by origin and a person of faith
All Ukrainian and Jewish sources emphasize that “Hasid” is —
Jewish by nationality,
a person of religious views,
motivating fighters with spiritual values and philosophy that he himself shares.
One of the meanings he quotes: “defending Ukraine is also about the light that must overcome darkness”.
The phrase “about the light that must overcome darkness” is a direct part of the Hasidic tradition, where light is always seen as a force that naturally dispels darkness. Such an image is found in the teachings of Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid of Mezritch, and the Alter Rebbe and is one of the central Hasidic principles.
The image that society sees
In Ukrainian social networks, “Hasid” is described as:
a principled instructor,
a strict but fair commander,
an officer who combines professional training with a personal moral stance.
What remains unknown
Full name, rank, unit, locations — are not published.
Some hostile resources spread an unverified version of “service in the Israeli special forces”, but there is no confirmation of this. Ukrainian official sources have not made such statements.
What video materials about “Hasid” show: documentary sources
1. Video from January 3, 2023 (project “Finding Answers with Inna Zolotukhina”)
This is one of the earliest confirmed appearances of “Hasid” in the media — a report from a combat company training.
The video directly states:
“Hasid” trains Ukrainian fighters from various units from the first days of the war, and does so exclusively on a volunteer basis.
He introduces himself as:
“I am Jewish by nationality and have extensive experience serving in special units of Ukraine and Israel”.He emphasizes that he considers it his duty to pass on combat experience:
“This is how I save their lives. And as Jews say: ‘Save a life — save the whole world'”.
In the same video, fighters of the “Black Raven” company talk about heavy battles in the Chernobyl zone, the importance of constant training, and how the instructor helps cope with combat stress:
“When you sit in a trench under fire for three days and don’t see the enemy — the instructor helps you learn to keep a cool head”.
“If you don’t train — you can lose vigilance. In war, mistakes cost lives”.
This video shows “Hasid” as a combat instructor who combines professional training with psychological support for fighters.
2. Video from August 31, 2025: “Who is Hasid?”
This is a later and more systematic video material that gathers information about him into a coherent portrait.
The video states:
“Hasid” personally trained over 8,000 elite Ukrainian fighters.
Has experience serving in special units of the National Guard of Ukraine.
Holds international certification in Israeli training centers.
Uses his own methods based on real combat experience.
Follows the principle:
“Weapons are just a tool, it’s the person who fights”.Considers his main reward the moment,
when a soldier returns home safe and sound.His faith in the Almighty is separately emphasized, which helps maintain inner resilience in wartime conditions.
This video shows “Hasid” as a systematic, recognizable, and one of the most effective Ukrainian instructors of the modern war.
What Russian propaganda press wrote about “Hasid”
Russian occupation media and related resources mentioned “Hasid” several times, but exclusively in a manipulative and speculative manner. The main thesis they promoted was the version that the Ukrainian Armed Forces instructor is allegedly a “former Israeli special forces operative”. Such statements appeared on several Russian sites after the release of Ukrainian video materials about the training of servicemen, where “Hasid” was featured.
Russian resources used the same video from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, interpreting it in a propagandistic manner, adding accusations, non-existent details, and attempts to present “Hasid” as a “foreign mercenary”. This is a typical tactic of Russian disinformation: distorting facts, imagining non-existent biographies, and forming the image of an “external enemy” to discredit Ukrainian volunteers, instructors, and officers.
What is the IPA and why does it award military personnel
The International Police Association is the oldest and largest professional organization of law enforcement officers in the world.
Founded in 1950, today it has representations in more than 70 countries.
The goal of the IPA is to promote international cooperation, law and order, professional exchange, and support for colleagues working in risky conditions.
Why the IPA awards
The IPA periodically awards
medals for bravery,
badges for service to society,
distinctions for contribution to safety and protection of citizens.
In peacetime, awards are more often received by the police — but during war, the association separately recognizes people who demonstrate a high level of professionalism in combat conditions, especially when it comes to protecting the population, training personnel, or saving lives.
Awarding the Ukrainian Armed Forces officer is precisely such a case.
Ukrainian Jews continue to defend their country
The story of “Hasid” is not only a personal recognition. It is a marker of a phenomenon that we at NAnovosti regularly write about:
the Jewish community of Ukraine is not a bystander in the war, but a participant.
Jewish military personnel serve in infantry, intelligence, and border troops.
Rabbis of the volunteer movement coordinate humanitarian and spiritual support on the front.
Thousands of Ukrainian Jews participate in the defense of the country as servicemen, medics, volunteers, engineers.
“Hasid” has become one of the symbols of this participation: a person who combines Jewish identity, professional military training, and real combat service.
His award is a reminder to the world:
Jews of Ukraine defend their homeland just like all other citizens of the country.
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NAnovosti News of Israel Nikk.Agency November 24, 2025.
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