The charity World Jewish Relief, which assists Jewish communities worldwide, said over the weekend that dozens of Jewish residents in Ukraine have been affected by recent Russian strikes. Windows were shattered, roofs damaged and unsafe buildings forced residents to leave their homes.
The attacks in recent weeks are part of an intensified Russian aerial campaign that has included some of the largest bombardments of the war. Russia launched missiles and drones across Ukraine, hitting cities including Kyiv and Sumy, causing widespread damage to residential neighborhoods. Kyiv was among the hardest hit in one of the largest attacks, which involved 90 missiles and 600 drones, including a hypersonic missile.
Explosions in Kiev in Russia's massive offensive
(Video: Reuters)
During a briefing held by World Jewish Relief, CEO Paul Anticoni described the situation facing Ukraine’s Jewish population as highly urgent. “Ukraine’s Jewish community is one of the most vulnerable Jewish communities in the world right now,” he said.
Anticoni added that the organization estimates about 1,000 Jewish homes are currently in urgent need of repairs. The London-based charity has been operating in Ukraine for over 30 years and supports around 8,000 elderly Jews through a network of local partners. Since the start of the war with Russia in early 2022, it has provided emergency aid, welfare support, home care, medical assistance and home repairs.
The British Jewish outlet Jewish News reported that among those receiving assistance is Rita, an 86-year-old Holocaust survivor whose Kyiv apartment was badly damaged in a Russian strike. Born into a Jewish family in Vinnytsia, Rita fled the Nazis as a child and lost her father during World War II. More than 80 years later, she again found herself living through war when an explosion destroyed the windows of her apartment.
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Rita fled the Nazis as a child and lost her father during World War II. More than 80 years later, she again found herself living through war
(Photo: World Jewish Relief )
“We were all covered in glass and the entire window frame fell on me,” she said. “I was really shocked by how the blast wave shattered the glass into such tiny pieces. It’s frightening.”
“I had to throw everything away. Everything was covered in tiny shards of glass,” Rita added. After the strike, she was relocated for her safety. However, due to illness, she struggled being away from her familiar environment. She eventually returned home after emergency repairs were carried out. Her daughter Natalia said the traumatic experience significantly worsened her mother’s dementia symptoms.
Another Holocaust survivor receiving assistance is Ida Drobotko, 86, from Sumy. Born in May 1940, she survived Nazi occupation after her Ukrainian mother hid her Jewish identity while her father served at the front.
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Dozens of Jewish residents in Ukraine have been affected by recent Russian strikes
(Photo: World Jewish Relief )
More than eight decades later, her home was also damaged in the war. In April, her apartment was severely hit: windows were shattered and the roof was partially destroyed. The building was later declared unsafe, forcing her to leave. She was allowed to return briefly to collect essential documents and a few personal belongings. “It was very painful for me,” she said.
“I cry almost every day because of what happened,” Ida said. “The damaged balcony, the leaking roof and the cracks in my home are reminders of that terrible day. I hope to receive support because I don’t know how I can recover from this on my own.”
During the latest briefing, Anticoni warned that the scale of need now far exceeds available resources. “We have repaired 3,500 Jewish homes over the past 15 years,” he said. “But today, I estimate there are 1,000 Jewish homes in urgent need of repair.”