- June 11, 2026
- 6:27 pm
- Israel
A girl from Ukraine has regained her residency permit in Israel
After several years of struggling with Israeli bureaucracy, Alexandra Kiseleva from Ukraine has been granted a temporary residency permit in Israel and an Israeli identity card.
The decision was made by the Population and Immigration Authority of the Israeli Ministry of Interior — Rashut Ha-Ohklusin. This was reported on June 10, 2026, by the publication Ynet.
Alexandra’s story became known to the general public two years ago. It was then revealed that the girl, who had already received Israeli status along with her guardians, might lose the right to live in Israel and face the threat of deportation.
The reason sounded bureaucratically dry, but for Alexandra herself, it meant years of fear and uncertainty.
Her guardians repatriated under the Law of Return and received legal status in Israel. Alexandra came with them as a foster daughter. Later, state structures decided that since she was not officially adopted, her status was granted incorrectly and therefore should be annulled.
When the law collides with human life
Formally, the case looked like a dispute over documents.
In practice, it was about a young woman who was already living in Israel, was connected to the country, was building her life here, and even engaged in volunteer work at a IDF base. For her, it was not an abstract legal procedure but a matter of future, security, and belonging.
Such stories are particularly painfully perceived in Israel, where the topic of repatriation, status, the Ministry of Interior, identity cards, and the right to live in the country affects thousands of families. Especially families from Ukraine, where after Russian aggression and full-scale war, the issue of asylum, relocation, and legal status has become not a theory but a personal reality.
In Alexandra’s case, it was important to prove not only a legal error but also that the state cannot mechanically erase a person’s life after already granting status.
Lawyers proved: the status was annulled unlawfully
Alexandra Kiseleva’s interests were represented for several years by the law firm “Varsha — Weitzen”.
The case was conducted in courts and state institutions. Lawyers sent appeals to government bodies, sought a review of the decision, and simultaneously tried to attract public attention to the girl’s story.
It was not a quick victory.
The process stretched over years, and Alexandra herself lived in a state of uncertainty all this time. She did not know if she could stay in Israel, keep her documents, or have the right to plan her education, work, and normal life.
In the end, the lawyers managed to prove that the annulment of her legal status was unlawful. The Ministry of Interior reviewed the decision and returned Alexandra’s temporary residency permit, along with it — an Israeli identity card.
For readers of NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency, this story is important not only as a private case. It shows how in Israel the collision of three forces works: law, bureaucracy, and public pressure. Sometimes a person has to prove the obvious for years — that their fate should not depend on a cold line in an administrative decision.
What Alexandra said after the Ministry of Interior’s decision
Alexandra Kiseleva did not hide her emotions after regaining her status.
She said she was very excited because behind her were long years of uncertainty and real fear for the future. According to her, she never stopped hoping that one day she could live without the constant feeling of threat and without the need to fight for what was already her legal right.
Alexandra separately thanked the lawyers Tomer Varsha, Asaf Weitzen, and Adi Greenfeld.
She emphasized that they accompanied her throughout the journey, believed in the justice of the struggle, and did not give up at any stage.
The girl also thanked the Ynet editorial team, which told her story and helped bring the case into the public field. According to Alexandra, this support gave her the strength to continue even in the most difficult moments.
Now, she said, she finally has the opportunity to open a new chapter in life — with a sense of confidence, belonging, and gratitude to everyone who helped her reach this day.
Why Alexandra’s case became an important precedent
Lawyers Tomer Varsha, Asaf Weitzen, and Adi Greenfeld called the Ministry of Interior’s decision fair and humane.
According to them, it was an exceptional case: a residency permit that was lawfully granted was then annulled, and a young woman had to fight for years to regain the status that originally belonged to her by right.
Their statement contained an important thought: such cases cannot be considered only through a narrow bureaucratic formula. State bodies are obliged to see not only documents but also the person, their biography, circumstances, connections with the country, and the consequences of each decision.
This is especially relevant for Israel, where issues of citizenship, temporary residency, the status of relatives of repatriates, children from previous marriages, foster children, and family circumstances often turn out to be more complex than a standard Ministry of Interior form.
The role of public exposure
Alexandra’s story also shows how important journalistic exposure can be.
When a case remains one-on-one with the system, a person often feels powerless. But when a story becomes public, state structures have an additional reason to review the decision more carefully, especially if it is a humanitarian situation and possible injustice.
This does not mean that every case is resolved through the press.
But in Alexandra’s case, publicity helped show the scale of the problem. Before society was not a “status error,” but a young woman from Ukraine who was already part of Israeli life and suddenly faced the threat of losing everything due to an administrative decision.
For many repatriates and families from Ukraine, this story sounds very familiar. Israel remains a country of return, but the path to documents here sometimes turns into a long test of nerves, money, time, and faith in justice.
What this decision means for other families
The return of status to Alexandra Kiseleva does not mean an automatic solution for all similar cases.
But it shows that Ministry of Interior decisions can be challenged. If the status was annulled, if a person considers the decision unlawful, if there are humanitarian circumstances, family ties, a history of life in Israel, and evidence of good faith in the case — the struggle can have a result.
It is especially important not to delay with legal assistance. In such cases, timing, documents, formulations, evidence of actual family relationships, and proper appeal to state institutions matter.
NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency notes: Alexandra’s story from Ukraine became not just news about a returned residency permit. It is a reminder that behind every Ministry of Interior decision stands a person, and behind every line in a case — years of life, fears, plans, and hope.
FAQ
Who is Alexandra Kiseleva?
Alexandra Kiseleva is a girl from Ukraine who came to Israel with her guardians, who received status under the Law of Return. Later, her own status was annulled, leading to a multi-year legal battle.
What exactly was returned to Alexandra?
She was returned a temporary residency permit in Israel and an Israeli identity card.
Why did the Israeli Ministry of Interior annul her status?
According to the publication, Alexandra arrived as a foster daughter of her guardians but was not officially adopted. Because of this, the authorities decided that she was not entitled to the previously granted status.
Who represented Alexandra?
Her interests were represented by lawyers Tomer Varsha, Asaf Weitzen, and Adi Greenfeld from the law firm “Varsha — Weitzen”.
Why is this story important for Israelis from Ukraine?
Because it concerns repatriation, family status, Ministry of Interior decisions, and a person’s right to live in Israel after already granted documents. For many families from Ukraine, such issues remain very sensitive and practical.