A Russian drone exploded at the edge of the Chesed Michael Jewish relief center in Zaporizhzhia during a major overnight assault on Ukrainian cities, damaging the building but miraculously causing no injuries to the dozens of people who were gathered inside at the time.

The strike came amid a broader wave of Russian missile and drone attacks on major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa, in which civilian areas were heavily hit, and many casualties were reported. According to Jewish community leaders, the latest barrage also caused direct damage to homes of Jewish families in several cities, leaving some in need of urgent repairs and temporary housing.

One of the most dramatic incidents took place in frontline Zaporizhzhia, where Russian forces are just 25 kilometers away, and the sound of explosions is heard across the city day and night. The drone was intercepted, but exploded at the edge of the Chesed Michael building, a central hub of Jewish communal aid, while an event was taking place inside with dozens of adults and children present.

Rabbi Nochum Erentroy, the city’s rabbi and shliach, said: “There were many people in the building. In an open miracle, despite the force of the explosion and the damage to the structure, there were no injuries. Only recently, we finished installing new mezuzahs there, and we truly feel that this is what protected us. Give thanks to Hashem, for He is good, for His kindness endures forever.”

“A few weeks ago,” Rabbi Erentroy added, “I put up mezuzahs in the building, and I am sure that is what protected those who were there. The two rooms that were damaged had no mezuzahs, because they were rented to someone who removed them.”

Speaking about the growing demand, Rabbi Erentroy said, “In the last month, we put up 500 mezuzahs in Jewish homes. There is tremendous demand for them, and even non-Jews are asking for mezuzahs because they understand that they protect.”

Though much of the city’s Jewish population has left since the war began, around 1,800 Jews still remain out of a prewar community of 5,000. Even under constant fire, the community continues to function with daily minyanim, classes, and support for local Jews.

“We have three minyanim a day,” Rabbi Erentroy said. “The war caused many Jews to come closer to the community, and we support them with food, encouragement, prayers, and classes. It is challenging to be here, but the Rebbe’s shluchim do not abandon the ship.”

The same night, Jewish families in other cities also suffered heavy damage to their homes. Rabbi Simcha Levenhartz, a shliach in Kyiv and operations director of the JRNU relief network, said: “Over the years, we have not experienced such a continuous wave of strikes on community homes. Many families found themselves facing destruction. Windows were shattered from the force of the missile blasts, and the cars, which are a vital tool for survival, were badly damaged. We are not leaving them alone and are offering immediate help with repairs and basic restoration.”

JRNU, which serves as the welfare arm of Chabad in Ukraine, has remained in close contact with affected communities and has been working with local shluchim to assess damage and deliver rapid humanitarian assistance. In some cases, families whose homes were heavily damaged were offered temporary evacuation and lodging.

“There are families whose homes suffered such heavy damage that the shluchim offered to move them to temporary accommodations,” Rabbi Levenhertz said. “The magnificent Menorah Center in Dnipro opened its doors for families who no longer feel safe at home, where they are receiving lodging, hot food, and emotional support.”

Rabbi Meir Stambler, chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, said: “The self-sacrifice of Rabbi Erentroy is an example of the tremendous strength of Ukraine’s rabbis, as President Zelensky said in his remarks to rabbinic representatives during the recent Pesach holiday. Zelensky also expressed his appreciation for this in a speech to the nation. We pray for peace and redemption for the entire world.”

The Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine also said: “In the past year, there has been a disturbing rise in damage to Jewish religious buildings. We condemn attacks on civilian populations in general and on religious institutions in particular. It is time to stop the murderous fire against Ukraine. This time it ended in a miracle, boruch Hashem.”