UN Security Council meeting

During a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, Russia's ambassador to the UN accused “Israel” of "radical measures that are changing the reality on the ground", Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Monday.

The Russian ambassador has also bashed the Israeli occupation for "violating the status quo at holy sites."

He stated, after naming several tenders for further settlement expansion: "Steps for the approval of Israeli settlements are being pursued as quickly as possible, as well as in the occupied Syrian Golan. We call on Israel to refrain from radical measures that change the reality on the ground, including arrests, settlement, annexation, and respect for the legal framework.”

On his part, “Israel's” ambassador to the UN, Gilad Ardan, claimed that "only one side is guilty of violence - the Palestinian”, according to the newspaper.

In a related context, Anatoly Viktorov, Russia's Ambassador to “Israel”, has lately warned that Moscow will respond "appropriately" if “Tel Aviv” supplies Kiev with defensive equipment, according to Israeli media outlets.

"We are carefully checking this information and will respond accordingly if it is confirmed," Viktorov said.

It is also worth mentioning that Videos shared on social media Sunday appeared to show several Israelis fighting alongside Ukrainian forces and thanking “Israel” for its assistance, according to Israeli media.

Hundreds of Israelis are thought to have traveled to Ukraine to join volunteer units following the war in Ukraine, but the exact numbers are unknown, according to the Times of Israel.

The videos' effusive praise for “Israel” is considered puzzling, given that Ukraine has previously chastised “Israel” for its tepid support.

Kiev has long requested that “Israel” sell its defensive military equipment most notably the Iron Dome air defense system, but has been repeatedly turned down. According to reports, Ukraine has also requested cyber weaponry to use against Russia, including the controversial Pegasus hacking software developed by the NSO Group.