The city of Mykolaiv (Nikolaev), located in Southern Ukraine on the Southern Bug River, is a major shipbuilding center of Ukraine due to its proximity to the Black Sea.
Nikolaev has a rich history of Jews dating back to the 19th century when Jews were banned from living east of the Dnieper River. By the end of the 19th century, the city was home to 20,000 Jews, 14 synagogues, and 15 Jewish schools. It is also the birthplace of the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
Today the people of Nikolaev are struggling to access clean water after missiles ruptured two pipelines that supplied water to the city. It is not possible to restore pipelines while the war is ongoing. JRNU staff and volunteers are digging a well to provide a ready source of water, eliminating the need for people to travel long distances for this critical resource needed to survive.
