Russian Drone Attack Inflicts Damage on Prominent Ukrainian Synagogue
Historic Nachlas Eliezer Synagogue in Odessa Suffers Damage in Russian Drone Strike
A historic synagogue in Odessa, Ukraine, the Nachlas Eliezer Synagogue, was significantly damaged by a Russian drone strike on August 4, 2025[1][2][3][4][5]. The attack, part of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, caused a large fire and severe structural damage to the building[1][2][4][5].
The Nachlas Eliezer Synagogue, established in 1898, was a place of prayer, hope, and spiritual strength for the Jewish community of Odesa until its closure under Soviet rule in the 1920s[1][2][5]. The synagogue has a long history, with a partial collapse in 1992[1][2][5].
The drone strike on the Nachlas Eliezer Synagogue occurred amid broader Russian attacks on Odessa, including damage to the nearby radio market where 50 trade pavilions were hit and 8 destroyed by drones the same night[1]. The strike is part of ongoing Russian military aggression targeting civilian and cultural sites, deeply affecting the Jewish community's heritage and historical memory[2][3].
No injuries were reported in relation to the drone strike on the Nachlas Eliezer Synagogue[1]. However, another strike targeted a car that another rabbi was traveling in with his family[1]. Much of Ukraine bears wounds from air and ground assaults, over three-and-a-half years into the Russian invasion[6].
Chief Rabbi Shlomo Bakst and Vice President Rafael Kruskal of the Jewish community have condemned the attacks, calling for international condemnation of the aggression and highlighting the loss of a sacred cultural site[1]. Rabbi Moshe Azman emphasized the synagogue’s spiritual significance and the impact of war on cultural heritage, underscoring likely advocacy for restoration[2][3].
Calls have been made for UNESCO to further protect heritage sites, including the Odessa Literary Museum[7]. The community's condemnation and international attention may potentially lead to future preservation initiatives for the Nachlas Eliezer Synagogue.
The Nachlas Eliezer Synagogue is located in Odessa's Peresyp district[8]. The chief rabbi of Odesa, Avraham Wolff, confirmed the damage to the synagogue[9]. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported a string of damage to symbols of Ukraine's Jewish community[10].
In summary, the Nachlas Eliezer Synagogue in Odessa, a historic 19th-century synagogue, was heavily damaged on August 4, 2025, by a Russian drone strike during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine[1][2][3][4][5]. The Jewish community has condemned the attacks and is advocating for restoration and preservation of this sacred cultural site.
- The damage inflicted on the Nachlas Eliezer Synagogue in Odessa by a Russian drone strike could spark policy-and-legislation discussions and political debates about war-and-conflicts and their impacts on cultural heritage.
- The general news about the damage to the Nachlas Eliezer Synagogue in Odessa raises concerns about the safety of museums and art sites, especially those of cultural and historical significance, during times of trouble.
- As the Nachlas Eliezer Synagogue in Odessa symbolizes the community's spiritual strength and Jewish heritage, crime-and-justice authorities may conduct investigations to establish accountability for the drone attack and the other acts of aggression against the Jewish community.
- In light of the numerous accidents and drone attacks on cultural sites in Odessa, including the Nachlas Eliezer Synagogue, insurance companies might revise their policies to better cover damage to buildings of historical importance during times of war-and-conflicts.
