On December 15, within the framework of the visit of the NGO Voice of Ukraine, the conference “Two Wars – One Freedom” took place at the ANU Museum in Tel Aviv. The event brought together members of the diplomatic corps, Israeli experts, human rights defenders and civil society representatives, as well as a Ukrainian delegation that included former Ukrainian prisoners of war.

The opening session featured remarks by H.E. Yevhen Korniychuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to the State of Israel, Anna Zharova, CEO of the NGO Israeli Friends of Ukraine, and Yuliia Pavliuk, representative of the Coordination Headquarters of Ukraine for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

The central element of the conference was the testimonies of former Ukrainian captives who survived unlawful detention, torture, and inhuman treatment by the Russian Federation:

Volodymyr Mykolaienko, former Mayor of Kherson (2014–2020), abducted by Russian occupation forces in April 2022 and held in captivity for more than 3.5 years.

Dmytro Khyluk, Ukrainian journalist with UNIAN, abducted in March 2022 and illegally detained in Belarus and Russia for 1,271 days.

Their statements served as powerful evidence of the systematic violations of international humanitarian law committed by the aggressor state and as a reminder of the urgent need to secure the release of all Ukrainians still held in Russian captivity.

As part of the Israeli expert panel, a discussion was held with the participation of Avital Leibovich, Director of AJC Israel; Yael Vias Gvirsman, attorney and founder of October 7 Justice; and Ido Dembin, Executive Director of Molad – The Center for the Renewal of Israeli Democracy.

The discussion focused on shared experiences in confronting terrorism and aggression, international accountability for war crimes, and the importance of global solidarity in defending freedom, human dignity, and the rule of law.

The Embassy of Ukraine sincerely thanks the ANU Museum, its partners, and all participants for their support for Ukraine and for keeping the voice of truth alive on the international stage.