Israeli commander killed in combat in Ukraine
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The commander of the Duvdevan unit, who previously served in the occupied West Bank, has been killed while fighting with the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
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Soldiers carry a coffin of Ukrainian soldier Andriy Kuzmenko, who was killed in the Russia-Ukraine war, Kiev, Ukraine, on Friday, January 10, 2025. (AP)
The commander of the Israeli Duvdevan Unit [Kfir Brigade – regular infantry], Oleg Rubin, was killed in Ukraine after traveling there five months ago to join the war against Russia.
According to Israeli newspaper Maariv, Rubin had been called up for reserve duty at the start of the war on Gaza and served in the occupied West Bank. However, five months ago, he decided to travel to his homeland, Ukraine, to take part in the fighting, where he was killed two weeks ago.
It is worth noting that "Israel" has consistently denied supporting Ukraine to avoid straining its ties with Russia, despite multiple reports indicating that it has sent weapons to Kiev.
In January, Axios reported that the US military transferred approximately 90 Patriot air defense interceptors stored by "Israel" to Poland, intending to deliver them to Ukraine.
For months, "Israel" hesitated to proceed with the transfer, citing fears of potential Russian retaliation, including the unverified possibility of Moscow increasing weapons supplies to Iran.
Although "Israel" had sent humanitarian assistance since the very beginning of the war in Ukraine, Kiev has been pressuring "Israel" to provide weapons and military aid, which Tel Aviv refused over and over.
Read more: Ukrainian advisor: "Israel" chose to be on the wrong side of history
