9 injured Ukrainian citizens were flown to Israel by the Jewish community of Ukraine, to receive medical care.

By Yaron Kelner

Nine Ukrainian citizens landed Friday night at Ben Gurion International Airport and transferred to Israeli medical centers for treatment.

Plane carrying injured Ukrainians at Ben Gurion – Photo: Israel Airports Authority Spokesperson

Earlier in the day, Russian news agency Interfax reported they were evacuated and will be treated at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot and Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem. The hospitals have confirmed the reports.

All of the Ukrainians suffered gunshot wounds, and at least two are in serious condition. The two Ukrainians evacuated to Hadassah Ein Kerem, a man in his late 20s and another in his late 30s, are in moderate – but stable – condition. The medical staff is conducting tests to further diagnose their condition, and they will be transferred to the appropriate department in the hospital later in the evening.

On Wednesday, one evacuated Ukrainian was admitted to Kaplan Medical Center for surgery on his hand. His condition has been declared as light.

The injured Ukrainian nationals boarded a 1 pm flight from Boryspil International Airport in Kiev and landed in Israel at 6 pm. Two were transferred to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem, while the other seven were evacuated to the hospital in Rehovot.

The medical evacuations are an initiative of the Jewish community in Ukraine which organized and funded the flights and hospital bills. Ukraine’s chief rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman gave his blessing to the wounded.

“This is just the beginning of humanitarian activities on behalf of the heroes of the revolution; the Jewish community in Ukraine will continue this course of action,” declared the president of the Ukrainian Jewish Parliament, Vadim Rabinovich.

The demonstrations across Ukraine, centered on Independence Square in Kiev, started four months ago and led President Victor Yanukovych to flee eastward to Russia. The protesters, composed of Euro-leaning nationalists, had violent confrontations with police forces which resulted in the hundreds of injuries and dozens of deaths.

Itay Blumental and Omri Efraim contributed to this report.

View original Ynet publication at: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4496318,00.html