Oleg Vyshniakov - Ukraine and Israel. Don't forget to visit gala concert of LvivKlezFest.

A lot of Ukrainians and tourists are planning to spend the upcoming weekend in Lviv. And there is no wonder, because on the 30th of August in Lviv a gala concert of LvivKlezFest will take place. (http://www.klezfest.lviv.ua) Lviv has been already hosting this international music festival of Jewish culture for seven years. LvivKlezFest is really worth seeing: it is a stunning performance with music, dances, master classes and refreshments. This year festival is being held from the 18th till the 31st of August. So if you have not had time to enjoy the spectacle yet, hurry up, because ahead is the last one and the most significant event of the festival. I understand that due to the current situation a weekend trip to another city is above the budget for many Ukrainians, but hospitable Lviv is an exception. There are plenty of ways to spend your time in Lviv not spending much money. Due to wide range of hotels and hostels you can choose a lodging that will suit your taste and budget.

A few tips how to see Lviv’s sights spending less money:

1) Tourist Information Center in Lviv (http://www.touristinfo.lviv.ua/): there you can get a free city map as well as a list of events for today;

2) Rynok Square is a free WI-FI zone, so you can download on your gadget a free two hour tour throughout the city. Just follow the route and the electronic guide will take you sightseeing; http://lviv.travel/ua/index/what_to_do/lvivin2hours

3) Don't forget to take a look at Lviv from the highest point of the city - Vysokiy Zamok;

4) Lviv galleries and antique shops on Virmenska Street are free to visit. There you can find the following art objects: galleries Dziga, Zelena Kanapa, Pory Roku, Art Gallery of Gary Bowman, Shchos Tsikave Art Gallery, and the famous Cafe-museum Gasova Lampa. 

5) You have to visit city parks as well. The park named after I. Franko is one of the oldest and the most  beautiful parks of Eastern Europe. The Culture Park named after B. Hmelnytskoho, Strysky Park which is the largest and the most picturesque park in the city. This is the favorite place of the natives.

Here you can find a lake with swans, glass-house with tropic plants, railway for children and many other interesting things.

6) The churches and cathedrals of Lviv. Dominician Church, cathedral church, St. Andrew’s church, St. Yura Church, Armenian Cathedral, Jesuit Church. You will be charmed by the grandeur and uniqueness of these architectural masterpieces.

7) Within  LvivKlezFest the festival of Jewish cousin will be hold in the Arsenalna street on 30 of August. Every two hours the excursions through Jewish square will be arranged near Podvalna, 5 street. The Gala Concert Opening Ceremony will start at 2 p.m. in Rynok Square.

See you in Lviv.

Oleg Vyshniakov - Ukraine and Israel. Ukraine-Israel cooperation is gaining momentum with each passing day.

Recently Ukraine started exporting eggs to Israel - I think it's great news for the Ukrainian agricultural market.

As you can see to find a replacement for the Russian market is quite possible, it would wish. I am sure that the rest of the agricultural products which previously were bought by Eastern neighbor now may be easy bought by Israel or Europe. And if in the near future Free Trade Zone with Israel to become a reality, I think that a number of Ukrainian companies in very different sectors will get a lot of orders.

Oleg Vyshniakov - Ukraine and Israel. Ukrainian armed forces have been already using Israeli developments for several years.

I have already mentioned a lot of times that Israel has lots of programs and technologies that should be borrowed by Ukraine. Armament is one of the most painful, but at the same time the most relevant topics nowadays.

In October 2008, the Minister of Internal Affairs Yuriy Lutsenko announced that IMI and the Ukrainian company Fort on the basis of Vinnytsia enterprise would be producing TAR-21 machine gun.

Machine guns are made partially of Israeli components and are named Fort 221. Weapons designed in accordance with the Bullpup system, when the magazine and the firing trigger are located behind the trigger (unlike traditional construction machine guns with protruding front magazine). This allows to increase the length of the barrel, without increasing the overall dimensions of weapons, that has a positive effect on the accuracy of shooting and ease of use. The body of the weapon is made of crash-resistant reinforced plastic, that helps to reduce the weight of the weapon significantly. In 2009, the assault rifle was adopted by the Security Service, the State Security Department, the Border Guard Service and the External Intelligence Service of Ukraine.

 They say that after the conflict in Donbass began MIA battalion Tornado was armed with Fort 221 and the Defense Ministry reported its intention to buy about 500 of these weapons.

As you can see on the photo these rifles were purchased even in larger quantities, and they were even given to soldiers. The question is whether all these weapons were took back to the warehouse after the parade. Having such a high quality weapon that is produced here, in Ukraine, Ukrainian army is still being equipped by the volunteers? Why?

Oleg Vyshniakov - Ukraine and Israel. Israeli scientists have found a solution to detect cancer 10 -15 before its onset.

The discovery was made in the laboratories of Galil Genetic Analysis (GGA)

According to published information it is enough to send to the lab a probe of saliva or blood to get a full study on the health risks at the genetic level. It takes 5 - 7 weeks to do this test and it costs from 1600 to 2000 US dollars.

The cost isn’t cheap, but in respect of diagnosed cancer treatment cost - it's justified. I think, for people who know about the predisposition to the disease after the disease of their close relatives, such analysis can be a saving panacea.

Every year in Ukraine, the cancer is diagnosed in 150,000 of people, mortality from cancer is 90,000 of patients annually. Statistics are very depressing. I think that these techniques to prevent the disease  are very important and necessary for Ukrainian doctors.

Oncology, oncohematology and radiology will be the main topic of the first Ukrainian-Israeli scientific-practical conference, organized with the participation of the Honorary Consulate.

The event will be held on 18 of September in the conference hall of the hotel "Cosmopolite"

Oleg Vyshniakov - Ukraine and Israel. Shimon Peres will arrive in Ukraine.

Former Israeli President Shimon Peres plans to visit Ukraine.
Odious person, experienced politician and skillful diplomat will deliver a lecture to the Ukrainian public. I think that for the Ukrainian businessmen and politicians the possibility of personal contact with such a person would be very useful.

Oleg Vyshniakov - Ukraine and Israel. Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!

Dear Ukrainians!

I want to congratulate You with the Independence Day of Ukraine.

Today, this celebration got very special, almost sacred meaning. Ukrainians defend their freedom, independence and well-being with weapon in their hands. Ukrainians, a proud and strong nation, who had shown to the world that they have their town opinion, their rights, their land, and will to fight to the last. Israelis understand our feelings very well. People of Israel have experience in the same war for their freedom for many years.

Independence Day of the country is a great holiday for everyone who is proud and loves his land.

I wish all of us the forthcoming end of the armed conflict, I wish Ukraine peaceful sky, health and welfare to you and your families and beloved ones, happiness and prosperity.

Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!

Oleg Vyshniakov - Ukraine and Israel. As you remember, a few weeks ago a group of Ukrainian children from western Ukraine went to have rest to a summer camp in Jerusalem.

As you remember, a few weeks ago a group of Ukrainian children from western Ukraine went to have rest to a summer camp in Jerusalem.

These are the children of heroes who lost their lives or got injured in the ATO. The war has wounded and disabled adults, and how hard it influences the child’s mind you can only imagine.

These children need the right rehabilitation and psychological support.

A small video how children had spent their time and returned their smiles, mischief, interest in games. I am very pleased with the achieved result.

Once again I want to thank the mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyi, the governor of Lviv region Oleg Sinyutka and UIA for their assistance, as well as company MerGrup for the gifts for children on 1 of September.

During the relatively short period on the position of the Honorary Consul, I’ve met a lot of influential people in business and politics, who are totally selflessly willing to support such humanitarian projects and to help Ukrainian people. I hope that together we will be able to implement many important and necessary initiatives to the extent of forces and capabilities to help the Ukrainian people.

Oleg Vyshniakov - Ukraine and Israel. Women at war.

When saying “army”, “defense of the Motherland” etc we think that it is a purely “men’s work”. However, 35% of the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) soldiers are women.
In Israel to be a military woman is quite acceptable; moreover, it is an honorable duty. Since its creation in 1948, Israel had been fighting for independence. Israeli women couldn’t stand aside so they were actively participating in the defense of the country. Nowadays, 26% of the officers of the Israeli army are women. Moreover, this figure continues to increase.
Ukrainian women are brave as well. According to various mass media today about 14 000 women are fighting in Eastern Ukraine. But Israeli army has already developed and provided the females with all the necessary ammunition, whereas current problems of Ukrainian army are well-known. There are no gender differences: Ukrainian women are fighting in the men's camouflage, wearing men's shoes that are often not comfortable and not in size.
Nevertheless, Israeli experts have already developed and presented the first specialized equipment for women in Ukrainian army. The author of this project is Natalia Naumova a volunteer and a public activist.
In the war zone may be vital every detail. A new form is practical, comfortable and made from very high quality materials. Quality outfits of a soldier - is his life. Let us hope that the novelty will facilitate the already harsh life of Ukrainian women-soldiers. 

Oleg Vyshniakov - Ukraine and Israel. Good news for the development of Ukraine-Israel relations.

Here is the good news for the development of Ukraine-Israel relations: this November in Ukraine a meeting of the Ukrainian-Israeli inter-ministerial commission on trade and economic cooperation will be held.

The question of holding the committee this year was being discussed during my recent meetings with the heads of the Commission: Ze'ev Elkin, the Minister of Immigrant Absorption of Israel and the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage and Pavlo Klimkin, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

  The relatively recent dialog between Petro Poroshenko and Benjamin Netanyahu, the negotiations on the establishment of the FTA, the interest of Israeli businessmen in Ukraine - all these factors undoubtedly accelerated the appointment of the next Commission meeting. This is a great opportunity for dialogue between the top management of two countries and for the development of a number of steps that will strengthen the relations between our countries.

Concurrently an economic conference involving business leaders and men of influence of both countries will be held.

Economic Conference can become a platform for creating a series of joint Ukrainian-Israeli projects.

Oleg Vyshniakov - Ukraine and Israel. Israel saw Donetsk airport battles in full.

In Israel the premier of Leonid Kanter documentary “Ukrainians” took place. It was translated into Hebrew. The plot of the film concerns battles that took place in Donetsk airport. Film crew was there during the most difficult times.

Most of the Israelis have relatives and friends in Ukraine. Situation on the East of Ukraine can not leave Israeli society indifferent. Israelis empathize and support Ukrainians. And the most important is the fact that Israelis want to get reliable information about the situation in Ukraine.


The film of Leonid Kanter is really impressive. The fact that pro-russian activists were trying to wreck the premier may be an evidence that the information provided in the film is reliable. The film is really dramatic. But I recommend everybody to watch it. I think this film will be available online soon.

Oleg Vyshniakov - Ukraine and Israel. Israeli Universities are comparable to Oxford and Cambridge.

 Center for World University Rankings published new top list for 2015. Each year this Center ranks Universities all over the world and presents independent evaluation of their level of high education. As a rule a top list consists of 1000 Universities.

With great honor I would like to notice that this year Hebrew University of Jerusalem occupies the 23 ^th place in this list. Except for Jerusalem one, there are also three Israeli Universities in the list: the 39 ^th place is occupied by Weizmann Institute (in Rehovot), the 87 ^th place by Tel Aviv University and the 136 ^th place by Technion, Israel Institute of Technology. Cambrige and Oxford take 4^th and 5^th place, respectively.

There is no Ukrainian University in this list.

Nevertheless according to the rating of QS World University Rankings Taras Shevchenko National University occupies the 421 ^th place.

Being the Honorary Consul of the State of Israel, I’m very proud of Israel: the State was built from a scratch in a desert 67 years ago and for this period the country developed its education up to the level of the most prestigious and the oldest Universities of the world. What is higher education? It is the level of future specialists that will further develop the country. It is intelligence level of the nation, future prospects and possibilities as well.

Being the person who was born and lives in Ukraine for many years and having two kids, studying in Ukrainian Universities, I’m very upset and disappointed. Ukraine had perfect academic basis and Soviet education considered to be one of the best in the world. Everything that was created for many years was destroyed in few years. How does National Academy of Science of Ukraine look like today? How do young specialists can work abroad with diplomas that are not relevant abroad? However the fee for education in Ukrainian universities is quite high comparing to European and Israeli ones. I’m not taking into account the sum that is necessary for entering the university, because fair exams may be conducted in unpopular faculties only.

The country that doesn’t think about its future generations has no future at all. Economy and policy are no doubt important but only professionals should deal with it. Ukraine faced the situation when it is needed to invite foreign specialists to take the Mayor’s office. Maybe it is time to think over the issue of preparing our own specialists, isn’t it? Moreover Israel is ready to cooperate as to the student and lecturers exchange programs.