"They are not Nazis" — Chief Rabbi defends Brotherhood before Israel
The Chief Rabbi of Ukraine stated that the Israeli Embassy had been misled regarding the Brotherhood's alleged ties to Nazism.
The Chief Rabbi of Ukraine held a meeting with Brotherhood leader Dmytro Korchynsky to personally investigate the situation surrounding the protest action on June 21. According to Asman, the video that caused outrage among diplomats has no relation to this event.
«We are talking about underage provocateurs who were likely used by Russian special services interested in such provocations, having paid them money», — the spiritual leader stated on Facebook.
Moshe Asman has already spoken with Israeli Ambassador Mikhail Brodsky to ease the tension. «I explained that the embassy team had been misled», — the rabbi emphasized, expressing hope that law enforcement would find the true organizers of the provocation.
Dmytro Korchynsky himself, during the meeting, stated that his organization is primarily a religious community. «Nazi aesthetics are not the aesthetics of the Brotherhood. Our people read psalms, not Mein Kampf». He added that for Ukrainian patriots, Nazism and communism are equally «repugnant» ideologies.
Moshe Asman separately confirmed that Brotherhood members respect all nations and denominations, and that Korchynsky himself regards Israel's assistance «with great gratitude».
As a reminder, on June 24, 2026, the Israeli Embassy expressed a protest in connection with the use of Nazi gestures by Brotherhood members. The embassy insisted that during the rally at Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv, Brotherhood activists shouted Nazi salutes and demonstrated the Nazi salute, and therefore called on law enforcement agencies to respond to the incident in accordance with the law.
As reported by the SPJ, the Chief Rabbi told a State Department official about religious freedom in Ukraine.
