Russian Missile Strikes Frighteningly Close to Kharkiv School

A Russian missile struck near the Or Avner Chabad Jewish School in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Monday night, causing extensive damage to surrounding buildings and prompting an emergency rescue operation as authorities searched for people reportedly trapped beneath the rubble.

The powerful explosion shook the neighborhood, sending thick smoke into the air and leaving significant destruction close to the Jewish educational institution.

According to the school’s security guard, the building did not sustain a direct hit, and no injuries were reported on school grounds.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov issued an urgent update saying emergency crews were working to rescue civilians believed to be trapped beneath the debris of nearby damaged buildings.

Volunteers from Kharkiv’s Jewish community joined rescue workers at the scene, assisting in the emergency response.

The latest explosion near the Chabad school follows a particularly difficult weekend for Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, which has endured repeated Russian missile and drone attacks throughout the war.

Despite the continuing danger, the city’s Jewish community has maintained an extensive humanitarian relief operation.

Following recent attacks, dozens of Jewish community volunteers, both young and old, traveled to damaged residential neighborhoods to distribute emergency supplies to affected residents.

Wearing brightly colored identification vests, the volunteers moved through devastated areas, distributing bottled water, fresh bread, and essential food supplies to families whose homes had been damaged or who had been left without basic necessities.

They also provided emotional support to residents struggling with the aftermath of the attacks.

Rabbi Moshe Moskovitz, Shliach and Chief Rabbi of Kharkiv, said the community remains committed to protecting its educational institutions and continuing its humanitarian work despite the ongoing threats.

Although the missile landed frighteningly close to the school, Rabbi Moskovitz emphasized that its operations would continue.

“The school will open tomorrow morning as usual,” he said.

Kharkiv’s Jewish community has remained active throughout the war, providing food, shelter, and humanitarian assistance to residents who have stayed in the city despite years of bombardment.

As rescue teams continued searching the damaged buildings Monday night, Jewish community volunteers remained involved in the relief effort, assisting residents in the surrounding neighborhood.

The latest strike serves as another reminder of the dangers facing Kharkiv’s Jewish community, even as its schools and communal institutions continue operating amid the war.