Jewish Teen Killed as Russian Drone Strikes Home in Kyiv

A 14-year-old Jewish boy was killed and his mother was wounded when a Russian drone struck their family home in central Kyiv on Friday morning, as shluchim mobilized to assist the family.

Daniel Umansky was killed when the drone struck the family’s home in Kyiv’s Pechersk district at approximately 8:00 a.m., during a Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital. His mother was wounded and evacuated for medical treatment.

Daniel held Israeli citizenship. His family had previously made aliyah to Eretz Yisroel before returning to Ukraine approximately 20 years ago.

Following the tragedy, Chabad’s emergency network in Ukraine joined Israeli officials and local Jewish organizations in assisting the family.

Israel’s consul in Kyiv and the Foreign Ministry department responsible for Israelis in distress abroad have been handling the case since receiving word of the attack and have remained in continuous contact with Daniel’s family. The Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine and Chabad shluchim are also involved in the efforts.

Rabbi Simcha Levenhartz, director of operations for Chabad’s JRNU emergency network, said the organization is maintaining continuous contact with the family, the Israeli Embassy and ZAKA representatives in Israel. Preparations are being made so that they can act immediately should the family decide to bring Daniel’s body to Eretz Yisroel for burial.

“These are the impossible lives in Kyiv right now,” Rabbi Levenhartz said. “Despite the terrible tragedy and the fighting, we are doing and will do everything to support the community and bring the joy of the holiday to every Jew, together with all the Chabad shluchim in Kyiv and throughout the cities of Ukraine.”

The Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine condemned the continuing Russian attacks, saying that they are causing casualties on a daily basis. At the same time, Jewish communities throughout the country are attempting to maintain their regular activities despite the ongoing war, while praying for peace and a complete redemption soon.

The deadly strike came amid a wider series of Russian attacks across Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that seven additional people were wounded in the attack on Kyiv. A fire that broke out at the site was extinguished, while emergency crews continued working at the scene. According to Zelenskyy, eight regions across Ukraine had come under attack since the beginning of the day.

In Odesa, one person was killed in a repeated strike on a postal terminal, Zelenskyy said. A clinic in Zaporizhzhia was also struck while people were inside, and additional injuries were reported in the Sumy and Mykolaiv regions.