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.
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