Israel Considers Sending Seized Russian-Made Weapons to Ukraine

Sharren Haskel, Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, proposed transferring captured Russian-made weapons to Ukraine, the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel reported on January 21.

The weapons in question include those seized from Hezbollah in Lebanon and other adversaries of Israel.

“This initiative is an important step in recognizing the shared threats faced by both countries. The Ukrainian side expressed hope for a positive decision on the matter,” the embassy stated.

Israeli forces have captured significant stockpiles of weaponry during operations in southern Lebanon, particularly from Hezbollah. These arsenals include Russian-made and Soviet-era arms, such as:

• Thermobaric and anti-tank missiles: 9M131FM and 9M131M (Metis-M).

• Man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS): 9K32M Strela-2.

• Anti-tank rocket launchers: RPG-29 “Vampir” and RPG-27 “Tavolga.”

• Other arms: RPG-7 launchers, Kornet anti-tank missiles, Iranian-made Almas missiles, and large quantities of small arms and ammunition.

Initially slated for destruction, these weapons were instead transported to Israel for evaluation. In November, the Israeli Defense Forces considered forming new anti-tank units equipped with these captured arms.

During discussions, Israeli and Ukrainian officials addressed mutual security concerns, particularly the growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia. Both nations regard this alliance as a significant threat to their national security.

Ukraine’s ambassador emphasized the shared interest in countering this threat, calling it a vital objective for both countries.

Earlier, investigations uncovered a significant cache of Russian weaponry in tunnels used by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.