Russian occupiers strike Odessa, destroying 19th century synagogue

Due to a Russian strike, the historic synagogue “Nachlas Eliezer” (in Peresyp) in Odesa was damaged.

The synagogue, located near the radio market, suffered severe damage. Representatives of the Jewish community of Odesa called on the international community to condemn these acts of aggression. Chief Rabbi Shlomo Bakst noted that this event became another loss for the community, especially on the day when the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem is traditionally mourned.

This was reported on August 4, 2025 by the United Jewish Community of Ukraine.

This synagogue, built at the end of the 19th century, served the Jewish community until it was closed in the 1920s under Soviet rule. In 1992, the prayer hall with 25-meter ceilings collapsed, leaving only the bakery and utility rooms. Currently, the remains of the Aron Ha-Kodesh and religious items are among the overgrown ruins.

The vice president of the Jewish community, Rafael Kruskal, also strongly condemned what happened, stating that attacks on religious buildings and civilians are a crossing of moral boundaries that requires a tough response.

At the radio market in Odesa, as a result of recent attacks, 50 trade pavilions were damaged, 8 of which were completely destroyed. The night strike on August 4, 2025, carried out by Russian occupiers using drones, led to significant destruction in the historic Peresyp synagogue and on the market territory itself.

According to the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the occupiers used “Shaheed-136” attack drones in this attack. As a result of the strikes, fires broke out, which were extinguished thanks to the efforts of rescuers and volunteers. In the area of the incident, a private house was damaged and 6 cars were affected. In addition, information about destruction awaits confirmation, and an investigation into war crimes is currently underway.

Large-scale fire damage was recorded in a dormitory, which is currently not functioning. Emergency services continue to work at the scene, determining the full extent of the damage. The Odesa City Council also reported damage to residential buildings and public facilities.

On the night of August 4, Russian drones were again active, causing air raid alarms in several regions of Ukraine. Odesa has recently faced large-scale drone attacks that have caused fires, including in the Privoz market area and Primorsky Boulevard, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Read more at — NAnews News of Israel