WASHINGTON — Ukraine’s chief rabbi warned of a new “axis of evil” developing between Russia and Iran in an interview with The Post — as Moscow celebrated the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II with a military parade featuring multiple US adversary nations.
Moshe Reuven Azman — who lost a son in the Ukraine war and whose daughter serves in the Israel Defense Forces — came to Washington on his own dime this week to plead with lawmakers and government officials to continue supporting Ukraine and Israel.
“Israel and Ukraine, they have the same enemies — an ‘axis of evil,’ I call it, that looks like World War II,” Azman told The Post on Thursday.
“I am an eyewitness myself: I lost my son one year ago when Russians killed him in a battle in the Army,” he said. “That’s why I say Russia is evil — it’s not only Russia, but Iran and North Korea.”
His warning came as Moscow celebrated the 80th anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany Friday with a Victory Day military parade that flaunted Russia’s relationships with North Korea and China.
Chinese troops marched with Russian forces in the parade, and Russian President Vladimir Putin was heard thanking North Korean military officials for contributing more than 10,000 soldiers to fight in his war on Ukraine.
“Thank you very much to all your fighters, your heroes. Best wishes,” Putin was overheard telling the North Korean delegation of visitors at Red Square, according to The Moscow Times.
The growing relationship between Russia, China, North Korea and Iran has concerned American officials for years — and the nations have been increasingly open to helping each other militarily.
For example, Tehran has been supplying Moscow with attack drones and ballistic missiles throughout the Ukraine War, even as it prosecutes its own proxy war on Israel using terrorist groups including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
In return, Russia has sent some of its top weapons experts to visit multiple Iranian missile production facilities to consult on their efforts, Reuters reported in March.
Azman, who was born in Leningrad but now lives in Kyiv, said Russian propagandists openly speak about their desire to destroy Europe and the United States.
“President Trump or somebody else (should hear) the Russian television in Russia — they say that they have to kill, to bomb Europe and nuclear bomb the Americans,” he said.
On Tuesday, he briefly met Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, who oversees US diplomatic talks with both Russia and Iran.
The rabbi would not reveal what happened during the interaction, but posted a photo of the encounter to X with the caption: “My principle in life is that words from the heart must find their way into another heart! I am grateful to Steve Witkoff for his attention.”
Still, he told The Post he advocated for Ukraine and Israel, noting that “everyone that I try to speak with I tell them the same thing.
“My message is the same: The Ukrainian people live in tragedy, Russia would like to make genocide,” he said.
“… I think it’s an important message, because here the new administration and the people who vote, they understood — they were strong (in) support in Israel,” he said. “… and they must support Ukraine, too.”