Ukraine's ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk said in an interview early Wednesday with the Ukranian news sources that Israel is working on a pilot project of an early defensive warning system against missiles and drones for Kyiv. According to him, the system is expected to focus the alerts only around the areas at risk and is expected to give "a special signal" indicating the arrival time needed to the protected area.
"Of course, we need such a system, we have been working on it for four months. During the visit, Israel confirmed that they will complete the pilot project for Kyiv within three months. This is very important for Ukraine, so we asked for it to happen sooner," Korniychuk said, noting that the goal is purely defensive.
An #Israeli missile warning system will be tested in #Kyiv, stated the #Ukrainian Ambassador to #Israel Yevgen Korniychuk. https://t.co/kDjarEaqqA
— UKRAINE VICTORY DIARY.LATEST🇺🇦DAY 364 🚀 (@UkraineDiary) February 22, 2023
Earlier this week, Korniychuk revealed that Israel refused to hand over the "MIM-23 Hawk" air defense system to Ukraine. According to him, "We checked this issue with Israel's Ministry of Defense. In fact, these systems were decommissioned ten years ago and are in poor condition. Based on that, the military annex, unfortunately, confirmed that there is nothing to transfer. They are really from the 1960s, it's not a bad intention, it's a question of the impracticality of transferring 'garbage that doesn't work,'" said the ambassador. Essentially Israel is trying to offer Ukraine defensive systems that will aid them in a more professional way.
Also earlier this month, the meeting between Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Ukrainian President Zelensky took place, in which the Ukrainians demanded defensive measures from Israel. At the end of the numerous meetings, it was agreed, among other things, on the transfer of the same system within a period of three to six months.
The delegation arrived in Kyiv per train. pic.twitter.com/7vtQSFzjVs
— NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) February 20, 2023
On Tuesday of this week, Foreign Affairs and Security Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein and Knesset Member Ze'ev Elkin said in their meeting with the President of Ukraine that there is a need to change Israeli policy and increase aid to Ukraine. “We must assist Ukraine in all areas where Israeli technologies, including military ones, can help protect the civilian population, its freedom, and independence," they said.
"Russia continues to shell Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv, where one of us was born and grew up. The missile firing and damage by Iranian drones against civilian infrastructure continue. All those guilty of war crimes against humanity must be held accountable. The entire Western world, led by the US and Europe, supported and continues to support Ukraine's struggle for its freedom and independence”, the MK’s added.
