Israel reportedly transfers seized Russian arms to Ukraine
Israel has most likely begun supplying Ukraine with Russian weapons that were seized, among other places, in Lebanon, reports The Telegraph. According to the British newspaper, this is evidenced by the movement of American C-17A transport aircraft observed following a meeting between Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel and Ukraine's Ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk. The aircraft take off from Ramstein Air Base in Germany, land at Hatzerim in Israel, and then proceed to Rzeszow.
Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel and Ukraine's Ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, met on 21 January. As the Ukrainian side reported later, Haskel proposed transferring Russian weapons seized by Israel, among other places, in Lebanon to Ukraine. Many indicators suggest that actions have followed these words, and the transfer of military equipment has already commenced. However, neither side has officially confirmed this.
Israeli arms deliveries to Ukraine
The Telegraph highlighted the commencement of American C-17A flights after the politicians' meeting. These heavy transport aircraft, manufactured by Boeing, can carry over 85 tonnes of cargo, and their construction allows them to carry armoured vehicles and even tanks onboard. The aircraft take off from Ramstein Air Base in Germany, land at Hatzerim in Israel, and then proceed to Rzeszow, which is one of the main logistical points for the further transfer of military equipment to Ukraine.
Potential arms deliveries from Israel to Ukraine have also been noted by a popular pro-Russian military blog on Telegram called "Two Majors." In a posted entry, it was noted: "There are indications that Israel has begun supplying Ukraine with Soviet and Russian-made weapons." Meanwhile, experts in open-source intelligence, running the "OSINTdefender" account, have posted maps showing the route taken by the American C-17A transport aircraft.
The Telegraph points out that about 60 per cent of the weapons and military equipment that Israel seized in Lebanon in 2024 were produced in the USSR or Russia. Among the intercepted arms are reportedly sniper rifles and modern anti-tank rockets Kornet, which were supplied to Hezbollah by Syria, a Russian ally during Bashar al-Assad's rule. Open-source intelligence experts also mention Russian ammunition and tanks.
The delivery of such weapons and military equipment will undoubtedly be beneficial for Ukrainian soldiers. In the case of Russian and Soviet equipment, no additional training is required for them. These are systems they are well acquainted with and use on a daily basis. Weapons and military equipment could immediately be deployed to the battlefield after being checked and serviced.
Russian weapons in Hezbollah's hands
Hezbollah has for years been using Russian weapons and military equipment, significantly enhancing its combat capabilities in confrontations with Israel and other adversaries in the Middle East. In its arsenal are, among other things, Kornet-E anti-tank missiles, effectively used against Israeli Merkava tanks during the 2006 Lebanon War, RPG-29 anti-tank systems, which remain an effective means of combating armoured vehicles and enemy fortifications despite the passage of time, and portable Igla missile systems, which pose a significant threat to Israeli helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles operating over Lebanon.
Russian weapons reached Hezbollah through various channels. One of the main suppliers was Syria, a long-time ally of both Russia and Hezbollah. Weapons were often transferred from Syrian army depots, and during the Syrian civil war, Hezbollah had access to even larger stocks of Russian arms, supporting Bashar al-Assad's regime. Equipment might also have originated indirectly from Iran, which has received Russian weapons for years and subsequently passed them on to its allies in the Middle East.
