On Monday night, a missile hit near the Or Avner Jewish School in Kharkiv, prompting an emergency rescue operation.
The powerful explosion shook the neighborhood, sending thick smoke into the air and leaving significant destruction to surrounding buildings.
According to the school’s security guard, the building did not sustain a direct hit, and no injuries were reported on school grounds.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov issued an urgent update saying emergency crews were working to rescue civilians believed to be trapped beneath the debris of nearby damaged buildings.
Volunteers from Kharkiv’s Jewish community joined rescue workers at the scene, assisting in the emergency response.
The attacks on the country’s power infrastructure have continued with at least six energy facilities being targeted in recent attacks.
The latest explosion near the school follows a particularly difficult weekend for Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, which has endured repeated missile and drone strikes throughout the war.
Despite the dangers, our work with the local community continues, providing food, shelter, and other humanitarian assistance to residents who have stayed in the city despite years of bombardment.
Over the past couple of days, dozens of volunteers traveled to damaged residential neighborhoods to distribute emergency supplies to affected residents.
Wearing brightly colored identification vests, the volunteers moved through devastated areas, distributing bottled water, fresh bread, and essential food supplies to families whose homes had been damaged or who had been left without basic necessities.
They also provided emotional support to residents struggling in the aftermath of the attacks.
Although the missile landed frighteningly close to the school, Chief Rabbi of Kharkiv, Moshe Moskovitz explained that there was no physical damage and operations would continue:
“The school will open tomorrow morning as usual,” he said.
As rescue teams continued searching the damaged buildings Monday night, Jewish community volunteers remained involved in the relief effort, assisting residents in the surrounding neighborhood.
The latest strike serves as another reminder of the dangers facing Kharkiv’s Jewish community, even as its schools and communal institutions continue operating amid the war.
Together we save lives and restore hope.
