Milan Czerny

milan@shomrim.news

@milanczerny

Articles

Milan Czerny

Exclusive: At Least 12 Israelis Who Fought in Ukraine Are Missing or Being Held by Russia

On the eve of the fourth anniversary of the war between Ukraine and Russia, Shomrim reveals that at least 12 Israeli-Ukrainian dual citizens have gone missing on the front, their fate still unknown. Since authorities lack reliable data on dual nationalities, the true number is believed to be even higher. Meanwhile, Israel continues to cultivate its ties with Russia - even as Putin publicly thanks Hamas. A Shomrim exclusive, also published on N12

January 5, 2026

Shall I Show You Photos, Too? How AI Chatbots Are Offering Sensitive Leaked Data

During nearly two years of war, Iranian-affiliated hackers have accessed large troves of sensitive data belonging to Israeli ministries, officials, and citizens. Artificial intelligence chatbots such as ChatGPT, Grok, and Gemini reproduce this sensitive data, despite court-issued gag orders in Israel. One of the bots even provided original posts and the password needed to open the files. A Shomrim exposé

October 16, 2025

IHH, a Turkish Organization Now Operating Heavy Machinery in Gaza, Was Banned in Israel as Early as 2008 for Its Ties to Hamas

The Turkish organization IHH, which is operating in the Gaza Strip using heavy machinery, was involved in the Mavi Marmara flotilla in 2010 and was banned in Israel as early as 2008 due to its ties to Hamas. These connections also led Germany to prohibit the organization’s activities within its territory. “The IHH has, under the cover of humanitarian aid, supported Gaza Strip-based so-called social associations which are attributable to Hamas,” the German Interior Ministry previously stated. A report by Shomrim

October 20, 2025

Exclusive: UN Publishes Tender for Tens of Thousands of Prefabricated Temporary Units for Gaza

The United Nations Development Programme published a tender to supply tens of thousands of prefabricated, steel-framed units to the Gaza Strip, to house displaced Palestinians. ‘This project will contribute to rehabilitation efforts in the Gaza Strip,’ the UN wrote. The U.N. tender provides a first glimpse into what the “day after" will look like for forcibly displaced Gazans. A Shomrim exclusive

August 20, 2025

Exclusive: International Rights Groups Readying Legal Cases Against the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

American lawmakers have officially warned GHF executives that they have exposed hundreds of American veterans to future criminal and civil liability. At the same time, legal groups are examining possible charges against the contested aid system, drawing on precedents from the Iraq War. GHF’s response: ‘To date, our security has not used any lethal force in any matter. Period.’ A Shomrim exposé

August 14, 2025

How Women are Smuggled to Israel for Prostitution

Since the start of the war and tightened security at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, human trafficking networks have started relying on a new smuggling route through Jordan to reach Israel. Recruiters operating from Israel send precise instructions – but anyone lured into Israel risks their lives. A Shomrim investigation, also published in N12 Magazine

July 27, 2025

Dockworkers across Europe Work Together to Halt Israeli Arms Shipments

Not only the Houthis are disrupting Israel’s maritime supply chain: Growing protests and mobilization by unions across several European ports – from Greece and France to Italy and Belgium – have successfully halted weapon shipments to Israel in recent months. A military shipment was also delayed at a Paris airport recently. “Dockworkers refused to load the containers,” a representative of one of the unions told Shomrim, “we were informed that military equipment was due to be loaded onto a flight to Tel Aviv.” A Shomrim exposé also published in N12 Magazine

August 7, 2025

The Cost of Wartime Travel to and from Israel: 6,000 Shekels by Boat, $4,000 on a Private Jet

A $35,000 private-jet hop from Aqaba to Cyprus. A yacht that once offered sunset cruises now offering one-way fares to safety. Taxi drivers demanding 2,000 shekels to shuttle desperate travelers to Egypt- and Jordan-border crossings. With Israel effectively blockaded, a vacuum has opened—quickly filled by opportunistic entrepreneurs (and outright scammers) advertising eye-watering escape prices on social media.

June 17, 2025

The Digital Offensive on IDF Soldiers: 350GB of Footage Submitted to The Hague

A pro-Palestinian group called Israel Exposed has uploaded a massive database containing videos and personal information of Israeli soldiers who served in Gaza and the West Bank. The material is reportedly intended to support efforts to prosecute Israeli soldiers in foreign countries. Other similar databases that have popped up in recent months include over 50 videos featuring Givati Brigade soldiers, as well as the names of 85 Canadian citizens who served in the IDF. And also, who covers the cost of an Israeli soldier who is forced to flee a foreign country due to the threat of arrest? Published also in The Times of Israel

April 10, 2025

The Slashing of USAID in Israel

Sewage treatment plants, disease-preventing medical research, 3D printed prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs for ultra-Orthodox and Arab toddlers and more. President Trump and his hatchet man, Elon Musk, are slashing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the biggest aid agency in the world – and the impact on Israel is massive. A Shomrim investigation.

March 5, 2025

European Double Standards: One Hand Slaps Sanctions on Israel, the Other Buys Advanced Weapons Systems

Since the outbreak of the war, the international community has used arms supplies as a means to pressure Israel. Germany has nearly halted them altogether, the United Kingdom has suspended around 30 arms export licenses, and Spain has denied docking permission to Israel-bound vessels. Yet, when it comes to their own security needs, the same countries continue to discreetly purchase weapons from Israel, some of which have been used on the battlefield in Gaza. A Shomrim investigation, published also at N12 News

February 14, 2025

Government Offices Hacked, Private Data Leaked—But Israeli Citizens Are Kept in the Dark

Since October 7, Israel – a cybersecurity superpower – has struggled to deal with a constant barrage of cyberattacks. Massive quantities of data have been stolen from government ministries yet, absurdly, the same citizens whose private information has been leaked to the dark web have no idea what’s going on – because of the overzealous use of court-issued gag orders. How a legal tool designed to protect citizens is being used to safeguard the reputation of Israel Ministries. A Shomrim report

January 30, 2025

Shattering the Syrian Strategy: Israel's Failed Bet on Russia

Classified Syrian documents, leaked following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, unveil messages from senior Israeli officials to Damascus, shedding light on the ‘Russian conception’ that the Netanyahu government relied on until the very last moment. On the one hand, Israel warned Syria not to allow arms shipments to Hezbollah through its territory; at the same time, it granted Assad immunity and gave Putin the power to monitor the actions of his close ally – Iran. A Shomrim investigation

December 26, 2024

What is the Hind Rajab Foundation, which is making Israeli soldiers fear arrest abroad?

The group has sent the names of more than 1,000 Israeli soldiers to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, but the ultimate problem is the lack of enforcement by Israeli authorities and the country's ensuing crisis of confidence around the world. Published also at N12 Magazine (Hebrew) and at Haaretz.com

January 10, 2025

Better Late Than Never: Israeli Companies Finally Reach Out to Ukraine to Help Fight Iranian Drones

Israel initially overlooked Ukrainian warnings about the threat posed by Iranian drones before the Gaza war erupted. However, recent months have marked a shift, with increased efforts to address the drone threats originating from Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and even Iran itself. Israeli firms are now engaging with the Ukrainian defense industry, which boasts more than 200 drone companies, nearly three years of wartime experience, and innovative solutions. A Shomrim exposé, also published by N12

November 10, 2024

IDF Soldiers' Gaza Footage Sparks Genocide Charges at ICC for 1,000 Troops

One year into the war, the IDF is struggling to enforce its ban on soldiers using their personal cell phones while on operational duty. This week, a petition was submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, listing the names of approximately 1,000 Israeli soldiers accused of war crimes and genocide. The case relies on videos and images shared by the soldiers themselves. Now, the same pattern is emerging in Lebanon. A follow-up investigation by Shomrim. 

October 13, 2024

Revealed: How Israel’s Radical Right Bypasses U.S. Sanctions

Since the beginning of the year, the United States and other countries have adopted a tough stance, imposing sanctions on Israeli individuals suspected of being connected to settler violence and far-right organizations. Shomrim uncovers the tactics used to evade these sanctions – from cash-only donations and funneling money through relatives to creating buffers between potential donors and sanctioned individuals. A Shomrim investigation, also published in Calcalist, delves into these practices.

August 15, 2024

The Quiet Wave: ‘What’s Happening Now in Russia Is Like a Plague – With Real Fascists’

Over the past two and a half years, around 85,000 Russians have fled to Israel to escape the Putin regime. Back home, they were artists, academics, journalists, and activists. In Israel, they are seeking a fresh start, coping with poverty, and trying to learn Hebrew – despite a shortage of ulpan teachers. They won’t even consider returning to Russia: “I couldn’t breathe there.” Shomrim takes a look at the largest wave of aliyah you’ve never heard of.

July 18, 2024

The Chaos Machine: American Jews in the Kremlin’s Crosshairs

The fake news campaign against Israel is heating up: After fake articles from Israeli websites like Walla and Mako, groups with links to Russia are now targeting Jews in the United States with fake versions of popular news sites, in an effort to undermine Biden, cause friction between Israel and Ukraine and spread fear. And, for the first time, AI-generated videos are being deployed on the digital battleground

June 27, 2024

Shomrim's Exposure from June: Israel Dismissed Ukrainian Warnings About Iranian Drones and Declined Offers of Assistance

No army in the world has more experience combatting Iranian drones than that of Ukraine, which has been dealing with them for over two years. Long before October 7, just after the Netanyahu government was sworn in, the then Ukrainian defense minister offered to send a delegation to Israel to teach the IDF everything it knows about Iranian drones. ‘Unfortunately, there was no genuine response,’ he tells Shomrim. Those same drones, which are now wreaking havoc in the north, are the greatest challenge facing the IDF. A Shomrim investigation. Published also on N12

June 20, 2024

The Dual-Nationality Nightmare: Global Threats to Prosecute Israeli Soldiers

Until October 7, the prospect of Israeli politicians and senior officers facing arrest while abroad was regarded merely as an oddity. However, it has now evolved into a palpable concern for soldiers holding dual nationality. In South Africa, the Netherlands, and France dual-national IDF soldiers are threatened with legal proceedings following their involvement in the war in Gaza. A Shomrim investigation, published in conjunction with N12.

April 18, 2024

April Fool’s Night: Iranian Missiles were Shot Down, but the Fake News Ran Amok Online

The mid-April Iranian missile strike on Israel triggered a deluge of false information across social media platforms, aimed at instigating panic and unrest among Israelis. Among the fabricated content were videos sourced from Ukraine, past conflicts involving Israel and Hamas, or even footage from the Rome Metro. Some misleading posts were even created by artificial intelligence or extracted from video games. A Shomrim investigation.

April 17, 2024

Dying of Shame: They Were Jewish Enough to be Murdered, But Not to be Buried

Zhenya, Dina and their two young children were murdered on October 7, but buried outside the cemetery. Why? Because Zhenya, who served in the IDF and immigrated to Israel more than 30 years ago, wasn’t Jewish enough for the burial society. The same thing happened to 21-year-old Alina, who was murdered at the Nova music festival just a few months after completing her military service. Immigrants from the former Soviet Union are no longer willing to remain silent in the face of the discrimination and humiliation they experience in their most anguished moments. A Shomrim investigation. Also published in Ynet.

March 28, 2024

The Indonesian Front: ‘They’ve Got My Accounts, My email, My location. It’s crazy’

Since October 7th, numerous soldiers and prominent individuals have faced relentless assaults, intimidations, and disturbances subsequent to being exposed online and having their private information divulged. Shomrim delves into the operational mechanisms: Spanning from small factions on Telegram and compromised databases to expansive anti-Israel organizations boasting thousands of members in Indonesia – some even making efforts to grasp Hebrew in order to comprehend what they term as the 'Zionist mentality.'

March 7, 2024

The Crazier, The Better: How Fake News Spreads from Tiny Telegram Groups to the Israeli Mainstream

‘The Shin Bet tried to topple Bibi,’ ‘Shikma Bressler’s husband spoke to Sinwar’ and ‘Yair Golan knew about October 7 in advance.’ Hard as it is to believe, the fake news, conspiracy theories and spin that drive Israelis to distraction start life on Telegram channels with barely any subscribers, which were set up to promote a single issue – like anti vaxxers, deep state and poisoned water. From there, the palpable falsehoods go through two more stations – medium-sized platforms and then larger groups, usually identified with a right-wing agenda.Then, they reach politicians and public figures, who amplify them to their hundreds of thousands of followers. The people behind these fake reports don’t care about harming the national interest or officials. For them, the wilder a claim is, the further it spreads. A Shomrim investigation

February 5, 2024

Iran's Cyber Onslaught: From Data Heist to Digital Warfare in Israel

It appears that on October 7 Israel was not only unprepared at the border of Gaza but also on the cyber front. Since the attack, multiple Iran-affiliated hacker groups infiltrated and are sharing on the dark web and hacker forums available to all, multiple leaked databases containing thousands of highly sensitive files regarding Israeli soldiers, civilians, and companies. An in-depth analysis of the ongoing crisis, from hospital breaches to governmental cyber warfare – navigating the fallout and implications for Israel's cybersecurity landscape

January 21, 2024

Putin is No Longer a Friend: Inside Russia’s Fake News Campaigns and Cyberattacks

Russia, under the leadership of President Putin, extended its actions beyond mere statements and diplomatic efforts directed at Israel. Starting from October 7, hackers associated with the Kremlin targeted and successfully disrupted Israeli websites and applications. Their attacks ranged from missile alert apps to government-owned sites, banks, and even the Shin Bet. Concurrently, Russian entities initiated a disinformation campaign, disseminating substantial volumes of fabricated and anti-Israel news globally. A Shomrim investigation. Published also on N12

December 17, 2023

How Israel Failed to Halt Hamas’ Cryptocurrency Fundraising

Merely half a year ago, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant proudly highlighted Israel's vigorous campaign against cryptocurrency fundraising by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah. However, an examination of the digital wallet transactions used for fundraising by these terror groups reveals that Israel was considerably behind in addressing the issue. In certain instances, action was taken only after October 7, by which point the majority of the funds had already been withdrawn. This investigation in also published in ynetnews.com

November 9, 2023

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