How Israel marked the fourth anniversary of the war in Ukraine

In the very heart of Jerusalem — near the Western Wall — a Prayer for Ukraine took place on 22 February 2026. Embassy diplomats, together with Ukrainian Jews and friends of Ukraine, unfurled a thirty-meter flag of Ukraine — a symbol of unity and resilience. For the first time, a Ukrainian prayer was held in both the men's and women's sections of this Jewish holy place.

More than 1,500 participants joined the event. Israelis and the city’s foreign guests warmly welcomed the initiative, expressed support and solidarity, and prayed together for peace and Ukraine’s victory.

On 23 February, an evening of remembrance and truth, "A Word about War" was held in Bat Yam. This was a meeting with Oleksiy Anulya, a released Ukrainian prisoner of war who went through extremely difficult trials.

On 24 February, a crowded memorial ceremony was held in Tel Aviv to commemorate the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The event, organized by the nonprofit "Israeli Friends of Ukraine" with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine, was attended by Israelis and representatives of the diplomatic corps from the European Union and the United States.

Those present honored the memory of the deceased with a minute of silence, lit candles, and laid flowers, once again demonstrating the unity, solidarity, and invincibility of the peoples of Ukraine and Israel.

In his address, Ambassador Yevhen Korniychuk noted the exceptional resilience of the Ukrainian people, who have successfully resisted Russia's full-scale aggression for 1,461 days and have been defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine since 2014.

Korniychuk also emphasized the need for a consolidated response to the “Axis of Evil,” as the use of Iranian drones and Russian weapons against civilians in both countries (Ukraine and Israel) demonstrates common threats to both democracies. The ambassador emphasized that a commitment to freedom and democratic values ​​is the key to our endurance and future victory over tyranny.

On 24 February, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha held telephone talks with Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar. Sybiha thanked Israel for supporting the recent resolution in the UN General Assembly, voicing support for Ukraine, which noted its commitment to "the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders." The ministers discussed common security challenges, including those posed by Iran. "I expressed gratitude for Israel's humanitarian assistance during this difficult winter, in particular for the 117 mobile generators that will be transferred to the Kyiv region tomorrow," said Sybiha.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel is illuminated in the colors of the national flag with the inscription "We Cannot Be Defeated.”"

On Thursday, 26 February, the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv will host a speech by former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov on the Ukraine-Israel strategic partnership against the backdrop of common security challenges and in the context of the confrontation with Iran.

Earlier, on 24 February, Reznikov spoke at a rally in Tel Aviv about the first stages of Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion in 2022.

Anna Zharova, co-chair of the organization "Israeli Friends of Ukraine", emphasized after the rally: "We stood together — side by side. Together we sang the anthems of Ukraine and Israel. We listened to Ukrainian songs, lit candles of remembrance, were silent, hugged, wrapped ourselves in the flags of Ukraine and Israel. In these flags, in these voices, in this silence with candles, there was the power of unity. Israelis and Ukrainians have a common destiny — to fight for their land and their freedom."

The anthems of Ukraine and Israel are heard at a mass rally in Tel Aviv on 24 February in the following video:

Text, photo, and video: Shimon Briman (Israel).