On Sunday, August 28 the Ukrainian special forces rescued the employees of the Embassy of the State of Israel from terrorists: the soldiers of the special forces unit of the SBU Alpha, the Kord National Police and units of forces of special operations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully neutralized the terrorists and freed the hostages.

The operation resulted in no casualties.

This thriller in the Israeli Embassy building took place in the framework of anti-terrorist trainings of the Ukrainian special services which the SBU conducted in coordination with the Israeli side. The residents of Kyiv could see the real picture of the antiterrorist operation right in the heart of the capital. I think many people were surprised with explosions, smoke, and military vehicles at the Israeli embassy.

Such trainings of the SBU are held not for the first time: each year the staff of the diplomatic representation of Israel agrees to participate in the anti-terrorist trainings, because it is well aware of the importance of such activities. As I have repeatedly told, response in the case of the terrorist attack is being taught at kindergarten in Israel. All Israeli citizens are well aware how to behave in an emergency situation, so the operation of the Ukrainian special forces did not become something surprising for the embassy staff. According to their words and experts’ estimations, the Ukrainian soldiers coped perfectly with the task.

Currently, Ukraine is facing a daily threat of terrorism. And now I do not mean the military conflict in the East, which is modestly called ATO instead of war: security officers face real or fake threats daily. I hope that soon the Ukrainian secret services will be able at least partially to achieve the level of Israel, where the credibility to the defenders is hundred per cent, and the level of protection is one of the highest in the world.