Chief Rabbi of Ukraine asks Israel to save Azov servicemen

Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Asman has called on the Israeli authorities to facilitate the evacuation of the defenders of Mariupol from the Azovstal iron and steelworks, surrounded by Russian troops. Asman spoke out to the Israeli leadership via Michael Malkiel, co-chairman of the Israel-Ukraine parliamentary group.

He made the letter public on Facebook:

"Dear Michael Malkiel, I am asking for your urgent help in saving the defenders of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. They are located on the territory of the Azovstal iron and steelworks and are completely surrounded by enemy forces. Among them, over 500 people are seriously wounded, this is a humanitarian mission. Our Torah says, “he who saves one life saves the whole world. We ask for the immediate assistance of the Israeli government in diplomatic negotiations on the evacuation of defenders to Israel or third countries.”

As reported by the Segodnya media outlet, the Russian invaders are storming Azovstal using the forces exceeding the defenders of Mariupol by 10-15 times. This was stated by the mayor of Mariupol Vadym Boychenko.

“There is an assault – they deploy tank artillery, smoothbore artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, use planes with heavy bombs and surface ships. Assault brigades are also joining them. That is, they constantly live by storming, storming and storming our outpost – Azovstal – today,” Boychenko said.

On behalf of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, complex negotiations are underway to evacuate seriously wounded soldiers from Azovstal in exchange for captured Russians.