As Russian attacks on Ukraine intensify, the country’s Jewish community is celebrating its fourth Chanukah in the shadow of war with a resolve to shine brighter than ever before.

In a unique new initiative, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU) launched a special “Chanukah Patrol.” This dedicated convoy will traverse the extensive front lines in eastern Ukraine—stretching from the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in the south, through Donetsk in the center, and ending in Sumy and Kharkiv in the north. The mission’s goal is to bring the light of Chanukah to Jewish soldiers serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It is estimated that at least 1,500 Jews are currently serving in the military, having been drafted as part of the general mobilization that has swelled the army’s ranks to over a million soldiers.

The operation will utilize two Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs, specially decorated with festive lights, holiday banners, and Menorahs mounted on the roof. These vehicles, originally donated to facilitate ongoing chaplaincy work, are managed by the Federation’s representative, Rabbi Yakov Sinyakov, who was recently granted officer rank for his extensive activities.

Accompanied by volunteers, Rabbi Sinyakov will travel along the front lines distributing personal Menorahs, candles, donuts, and the same holiday kits currently being distributed to civilians. According to the plan, the patrol will also hold central Menorah lighting ceremonies at major bases, gathering Jewish soldiers stationed in the vicinity.

Simultaneously, in collaboration with Shluchim across the country, the Federation is distributing holiday kits to tens of thousands of Jewish households.

Each kit contains a beautiful Menorah for family use, candles for all eight nights, and—for the first time—a newly printed Ukrainian translation of the Chumash. The packages also include Chanukah Gelt, holiday guides, chocolate coins for children, and the children’s book Eight Bright Candles by Jessica Liu, now translated into Ukrainian. Due to a current flu outbreak in the country, the kits also include a pack of medical masks.

The massive logistical effort to pack these kits has been taking place around the clock at the Federation’s large logistics center in Dnipro and is set to conclude by the weekend. Additionally, thousands of billboards have been erected in major cities across Ukraine featuring Chanukah greetings, ensuring that every Jew exposed to them is reminded of the approaching holiday.

Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine and a Chabad Shliach, emphasized the spiritual significance of the campaign.

“The common denominator of all our activities this holiday is to ‘add in light,'” Rabbi Stambler says. “There is only one way to defeat darkness: not by trying to chase it away, but by adding light. Alongside bringing the joy of the holiday to the soldiers, Shluchim will continue the tradition of ‘Mivtza Chanukah,’ holding public lightings and community events, leading Ukrainian Jewry with pride despite the challenges.”

Rabbi Stambler concluded with a prayer: “From the holiday of Chanukah—which is named for Chanukas Hamizbeach—may we all march toward the dedication of the Third Temple and the complete Redemption very soon.”