Israel condemns Russian strikes on Kyiv that killed 14-year-old Israeli citizen

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned recent Russian strikes on Kyiv that killed a 14-year-old Israeli citizen on Friday, adding an Israeli diplomatic dimension to the continuing toll of Russia's attacks on the Ukrainian capital.

The ministry's condemnation places Israel among the growing number of governments that have publicly denounced individual strikes on Kyiv when their own citizens or nationals have been affected, a pattern that has recurred periodically throughout Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

An international dimension to the strikes

Kyiv has been the target of repeated Russian missile and drone strikes throughout the war, attacks that have periodically killed or injured foreign nationals residing in or visiting Ukraine, given the significant international community, including dual nationals and long-term residents, present in the country.

Israel maintains a global diplomatic network that regularly issues statements when Israeli citizens are killed or injured abroad, regardless of the country or context involved, reflecting a longstanding practice of asserting the state's interest in the safety of Israelis worldwide.

The death of the teenager adds to the broader civilian toll of Russia's strikes on Kyiv, which have continued intermittently throughout the war and have drawn condemnation from numerous governments and international organisations over the course of the conflict.

Russia has not issued a specific public response addressing this particular incident at the time of Israel's condemnation.