Month: June 2026

On the night of June 2, 2026, Russia launched a massive combined missile and drone strike on Ukraine. Kyiv, Kyiv region, Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk region, Kharkiv and Kharkiv region, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Chernihiv region, Poltava region, Khmelnytsky region, Odesa region, Mykolaiv region, as well as energy and critical infrastructure facilities in several regions of the country were under attack.

According to updated data, the number of victims of the Russian army’s strikes on Ukrainian cities continues to grow: at the time of writing, it is known of at least 17 dead, over 100 people were injured. In Kyiv, the number of dead increased to 5 people. In Dnipro, a search and rescue operation continues at the site of a destroyed four-story apartment building.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the fate of six people in Dnipro is still unknown. Part of the house, he said, was almost demolished. Nine people died, including a child.

While Kremlin officials try to manipulate the topic of ‘peace talks’ on the international stage, the actions of the Russian army demonstrate the real face of Russia — it is a deliberate and ruthless terror against the peaceful population of Ukraine.

Night of June 2: 729 air targets and a strike on civilian Ukraine

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia used 729 air attack means: 73 missiles of various types and 656 drones. Among them were Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Kh-101 and Kalibr cruise missiles, Zircon anti-ship missiles, Shahed strike drones, Gerbera, Italmas, Banderol loitering munitions, and Parody decoy drones.

Ukrainian air defense destroyed or suppressed 642 air targets: 40 missiles and 602 drones. In particular, Iskander-M, Kh-101, Kalibr missiles, and hundreds of drones of various types were shot down.

But some missiles and drones reached their targets. Hits were recorded at dozens of locations, as well as debris falling on civilian objects.

The main meaning of this attack was obvious by the morning: Russia was again hitting not only military infrastructure. Residential buildings, hospitals, clinics, maternity wards, enterprises, energy facilities, cars, warehouses, educational buildings, administrative objects, gas stations, fire stations, and ordinary city neighborhoods were hit.

This is not a ‘targeting error’ or a side effect of war. This is a terrorist tactic of a state that tries to break people with fear, night explosions, destroyed homes, and a constant sense of danger.

Kyiv: five dead, children among the injured, damage in eight districts

The main strike hit Kyiv. Rescuers worked almost all night in all districts of the capital — at dozens of locations. The consequences of the attack were recorded in Podilskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Obolonskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Solomianskyi, Holosiivskyi, Pecherskyi, and Darnytskyi districts.

In Kyiv, 5 people died. More than 60 residents were injured. Among the victims were children aged 3, 11, and 17.

In the Podilskyi district, after a repeated missile strike on a residential high-rise, the building’s structures partially collapsed. According to preliminary information, people could remain under the rubble. Fires also broke out in the non-residential development area, and cars and warehouse premises were damaged.

In the Holosiivskyi district, the clinic was seriously damaged: the second and third floors of the building were destroyed. A business center was also damaged, cars caught fire, and new fire outbreaks appeared.

In the Shevchenkivskyi district, debris damaged a 24-story residential building, where a fire started on the fourth and fifth floors. Non-residential buildings also burned, and one of the nine-story buildings sustained facade and roof damage.

In the Solomianskyi district, debris hit the upper floors of a 15-story residential building. In addition, a high-rise caught fire at the level of the seventh-eighth floors, as well as several private houses.

In the Sviatoshynskyi district, fires broke out in a five-story residential building and in the non-residential development area. In the Obolonskyi district, debris fell near two kindergartens and caused a fire on the territory of an unfinished building. In the Darnytskyi district, after the fall of UAV debris, a gas station caught fire.

Municipal facilities, an academy, utility structures, a car dealership, and the territory of the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center 8041 were also affected. People with appointments had to receive services at other service centers in Kyiv.

Kyiv region: houses, warehouses, terminal, cars, and fires

The Kyiv region was also under attack. Due to hits and debris falls, fires broke out in the residential sector and on civilian infrastructure facilities.

In the Bucha district, rescuers extinguished a fire in a townhouse with an area of about 100 square meters. Cars were damaged on the territory of a logistics facility.

In Sofiivska Borshchahivka, a two-story warehouse building caught fire. The fire covered an area of about 500 square meters, but the fire was extinguished. Debris also damaged private residential houses.

In Kryukivshchyna, a fire broke out in a three-story building that was not in use. In the Fastiv district, private residential houses burned after the attack. In the Vyshhorod district, the fall of drone debris caused grass to catch fire in an open area.

In Kyiv region, damage to a postal terminal and cars was also reported. This shows that the Russian strike covered not only the capital but also the civilian infrastructure around it.

Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk region, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia: destroyed houses, a dead child, and strikes on enterprises

In Dnipro, the Russian attack led to the partial destruction of apartment buildings. An enterprise, a fire station, garages were damaged, and cars were destroyed.

According to Ukrainian authorities, nine people died in the city, including a child. Dozens more residents were injured. Zelensky separately reported that the fate of six people remains unknown, and the search and rescue operation will continue as long as necessary.

At the site of the destroyed four-story apartment building, rescuers continue to clear the rubble. Part of the building was effectively demolished by the strike.

Among the dead was a State Emergency Service rescuer, Major Anton Yarmolenko, deputy head of the fire and rescue unit. He was on his way to a call at the moment of the Russian strike.

This detail is especially important. Russia kills not only residents but also those who are supposed to save people after shelling.

Dnipropetrovsk region: Kamianske, Nikopol region, Synelnykove region, and Kryvyi Rih

In Kamianske, an administrative building and apartment buildings were damaged. Three people were injured, including a rescuer. The injured were hospitalized, and their condition was assessed as moderate.

In the Nikopol region, the district center, as well as the Chervonohryhorivska, Pokrovska, and Marhanetska communities were under attack. Private and apartment buildings were damaged.

In the Synelnykove region, Russian troops attacked the Vasylkivska community. As a result of the strike, a non-operational building caught fire.

In Kryvyi Rih, the strike hit the Apostolivska community, where a fire broke out. This shows that Russian terror is not limited to regional centers: smaller towns, communities, and residential areas remain under attack.

Kharkiv and Kharkiv region: drones, missiles, energy, and residential neighborhoods

Kharkiv experienced a combined attack by drones and missiles. The city was hit by strike drones and missiles. Hits were recorded in the Osnovianskyi, Slobidskyi, Nemyshlianskyi, and Kyivskyi districts.

In the Osnovianskyi district, private residential houses, administrative buildings, the territory of a preschool institution, and civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged. In the Slobidskyi district, an apartment building, cars, and a street lighting network were affected.

In the Nemyshlianskyi district, the strike damaged an office building, where a fire broke out. In the Kyivskyi district, hits were recorded on the territory of industrial enterprises.

The Kharkiv region was also hit. People were injured, including a child. The Barvinkivska, Donetska, Merefianska, and Vysokhanivska communities were under attack. Residential houses, utility buildings, garages, cars, and other civilian objects burned.

Separately, Zelensky reported strikes on energy facilities in the Kharkiv region and critical infrastructure in Kharkiv. This is an important element of Russian tactics: hitting not only people directly but also the systems that support the city’s life.

Zaporizhzhia: dozens of strikes and damaged high-rises

Zaporizhzhia also underwent a massive attack at night using various types of weapons. Dozens of strikes were recorded, including on one of the city’s industrial facilities.

In the Shevchenkivskyi district, four apartment buildings were damaged. Windows were broken in the apartments, and balconies were damaged.

Specialized services worked on-site, inspecting the territory, documenting the consequences of the shelling, and helping temporarily cover broken windows with OSB boards.

For Zaporizhzhia, this is not a single episode but a continuation of life under constant threat: explosions, damaged houses, emergency work, night alarms, and anticipation of the next strike.

Sumy, Chernihiv region, Poltava region, Khmelnytsky region, Odesa, and Mykolaiv region: geography of Russian terror

Sumy experienced night strikes on the residential sector and infrastructure facilities. Drone hits were recorded on a private house and an apartment building in the Zarichnyi district.

An elderly woman had an acute stress reaction, and she received medical assistance. In the morning, Russian troops also shelled Sumy with artillery. Roofs, windows, and balcony structures of two high-rise buildings were damaged.

Two women and a man who were nearby at the time of the shelling were injured. All were hospitalized, and their condition was assessed as moderate.

NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency draws attention to this geography of strikes specifically for the Israeli audience: it is not about one point on the map but a systematic attack on the country’s civilian space. Israelis are well acquainted with the logic of missile pressure, where the enemy tries to hit not only infrastructure but also the sense of security in society.

Chernihiv region: injured teenager, houses, lyceum, and warehouses

In the Chernihiv region, a 15-year-old teenager was injured as a result of a Russian attack. Residential houses, a lyceum, and warehouse premises burned in the region.

In the Horodnia community, a Russian drone hit a residential house, causing a fire. In Chernihiv, a fire also broke out due to the fall of an enemy drone on a residential house.

In the Koriukivka and Novhorod-Siverskyi districts, after Russian strikes, lyceum premises and warehouse buildings caught fire. The fires were extinguished, but the picture again shows: not abstract objects are under attack, but places associated with people’s daily lives.

Poltava region: private enterprise, houses, and an injured person

The Poltava region experienced a combined strike. Drone and missile hits were recorded in the Lubny district.

Premises of a private enterprise were affected. At another location, a missile fell near private houses, damaging residential buildings and utility structures.

One person was injured. His condition was assessed as satisfactory, and he received the necessary medical assistance.

Khmelnytsky region: shot down drones, fire, and damaged enterprises

The Khmelnytsky region was also in the attack zone. A fire broke out at one of the facilities in the Khmelnytsky district.

Air defense forces shot down or suppressed nine drones in the region. As a result of the attack, premises on the territory of enterprises were damaged.

Units of the State Emergency Service were involved in eliminating the consequences of the shelling and extinguishing fires. Information about the dead or injured in the region was not received at the time of the reports.

Odesa region: strike on a hospital and maternity ward

In the Odesa region, Russian strikes hit a hospital and a maternity ward. At the time of the attack, mothers with newborns were there.

According to preliminary data, people were not injured. But the very fact of a strike on such infrastructure shows the level of moral decline of the Russian military machine.

A hospital and a maternity ward are not military targets. These are places where life should be saved, not where infants should be hidden from explosions.

Mykolaiv region: Shahed, critical infrastructure, and a damaged house

The Mykolaiv region was attacked by Shahed-type drones by Russia. Critical infrastructure was under attack.

As a result of air defense work and debris falls in the Mykolaiv district, windows and the roof of a private house were damaged. There were no casualties.

Even where casualties are avoided, the attack leaves behind destruction, stress, and another confirmation: the Russian army deliberately pressures civilian life.

Power outages and strikes on energy

Due to strikes on energy infrastructure, some consumers in Kyiv and several regions temporarily lost power. Outages were recorded in the capital, as well as in the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Cherkasy regions.

In Kyiv, a production site and infrastructure facilities of one of the energy enterprises were damaged. Two energy sector workers were injured and hospitalized.

Energy workers worked in an enhanced mode to restore power supply as quickly as possible. Separately, strikes on oil and gas industry facilities were reported. Rescue and operational services worked on-site.

Why this is important for Israel and international security

For the Israeli audience, this attack does not look like distant news ‘somewhere in Europe.’ Israel knows well what air raids, missile strikes, night shelling, air defense work, overloaded hospitals, and the psychological fatigue of the civilian population are.

The difference in scale and geography does not negate the general logic: when a state deliberately hits cities, it tests not only military defense but also the resilience of society.

That is why Zelensky’s words after this night sounded not only as an appeal to Ukrainians. He stated that if Ukraine is not protected from ballistic and other missile strikes, such attacks will continue. According to him, Europe needs its own anti-ballistic defense, and US assistance in supplying missiles for Patriot systems remains critically important.

For Israel, this is understandable language. Without layered air defense, constant replenishment of interceptor missiles, modernization of detection systems, and international support, even a strong defense system quickly comes under pressure if the enemy launches hundreds of targets simultaneously.

The Ukrainian night of June 2 is not only a Ukrainian tragedy. It is a signal for the entire democratic world: missiles, drones, and strikes on cities become a tool of pressure on civilian societies if the aggressor does not receive a tough response.

Not negotiations, but coercion through terror

On the international stage, the Kremlin continues to talk about ‘peace negotiations,’ conditions, and diplomacy. But the night of June 2 showed the real content of this rhetoric.

Russia acts as a terrorist state. It uses missiles, drones, night strikes, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure as a tool of pressure on Ukraine and its partners.

This attack became yet another proof: Russia does not show readiness to end the war. It shows readiness to kill, destroy, and force Ukraine to concessions through terror against the peaceful population.

The main conclusion: Ukraine needs strong defense, not the illusion of peace

After such strikes, it is especially clear that Ukraine’s security cannot rely solely on statements, diplomatic formats, and calls for a ceasefire.

Missiles for Patriot are needed. Additional air defense systems are needed. Defense production, engineers, mathematicians, specialists in drones, electronic warfare, energy protection, and city restoration after strikes are needed.

Ukraine needs an army that can not only hold the front but also protect the sky over Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Mykolaiv, and other cities.

And internal resilience is needed — civic cohesion, without which even the strongest defense cannot withstand a long war. Zelensky separately thanked Ukrainians for not ignoring air raid signals. This is a simple phrase, but behind it lies life: shelter, discipline, attention to warnings, and mutual assistance truly save people.

The night of June 2 was another reminder: Russia will not stop from requests. It stops only where it meets strength, defense, technological superiority, and societal unity.

The path to ending this war lies not through beautiful formulas about ‘peace at any cost,’ but through Ukraine’s ability to survive, protect cities, strengthen the army, and deprive the aggressor of the opportunity to strike people with impunity.

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The US Army has begun a large-scale technological reform after Ukrainian combat experience revealed a weak spot in Western armies: even the most expensive weapons lose some effectiveness if drones, sensors, air defense systems, and command platforms cannot quickly exchange data.

The reason for the new American program was the success of the Ukrainian battle management system ‘Delta’. It was this system that helped Ukraine integrate drones, sensors, strike means, and command decisions into a single digital environment amid full-scale Russian aggression.

Now this experience is being studied not as a ‘Ukrainian improvisation’, but as a model of future warfare. For the US, it’s a matter of speed, battlefield survival, and the ability to respond to threats that are particularly well understood in Israel: drones, missiles, Iranian technologies, rear attacks, and the need to make decisions in minutes, not hours.

Why Ukrainian experience became a signal for the US

According to the Financial Times, the US Army launched the Project Jailbreak initiative to overcome an old problem: different weapon and management systems were often created as closed products, poorly compatible with each other.

In practice, this meant that a soldier or operator became a living ‘integration point’. They had to manually transfer data, switch between screens, link information from different sources, and make decisions under conditions of fatigue, cold, stress, and constant threat.

US Army Chief Technology Officer Alex Miller described this problem very simply: the existing approach does not work if a serviceman is wet, hungry, tired, and has been on task for 20 hours.

From separate systems to a unified battlefield

Before the reform, American developments often resembled a set of strong but poorly connected tools. A drone sees one thing, a radar detects another, an air defense system lives in its own logic, and the command post receives fragments of the picture with a delay.

Captain Mika Moul compared the previous situation to trying to conduct an orchestra via Microsoft Teams, where each musician has different notes. This phrase well explains the main challenge of modern warfare: the problem is not only in the availability of weapons, but in how quickly it turns into a unified combat network.

Ukraine, faced with the massive use of Russian missiles, Shahed, reconnaissance and strike drones, was forced to accelerate such integration not in the laboratory, but right on the front line.

Project Jailbreak: how the Pentagon is trying to ‘unlock’ its systems

A key moment for the American leadership was the visit of US Army Minister Dan Driscoll to Germany. There he saw how Ukrainian military use ‘Delta’ to integrate drones, sensors, and weapons into a working battle management system.

After this, according to Driscoll, it became clear: much of what he had seen before was not sufficiently integrated, not simple enough, and not convenient enough for servicemen.

Project Jailbreak gathered the largest defense companies and technological structures around one task. Participants included Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Anduril, Palantir, and other players in the American defense market.

Their goal was not abstract. It was necessary to make air defense systems, counter-drone means, drones, radars, cameras, command platforms, and weapons ‘speak the same language’.

For the Israeli audience, this story is important not only as news from the US. The Middle East has long lived in a reality where the speed of data transfer between a sensor and a weapon can determine the outcome of an attack. Therefore, Nikk.Agency — Israel News | Nikk.Agency considers Ukraine’s experience as part of a broader picture: drone warfare, the Iranian threat, sky defense, and digital battle management become a common theme for Ukraine, Israel, the US, and their partners.

What is already being deployed in the troops

The first results of Project Jailbreak have already begun to be delivered to American units, including forces in the Middle East. This is particularly indicative: a region where Israel regularly faces threats from Iran and its proxies becomes one of the directions where updated approaches can be tested the fastest.

The American army announced its intention to deploy a full package of fixes within the next 30 days. This is not about a cosmetic update of interfaces, but an attempt to change the very architecture of interaction between systems.

If earlier new weapons could be procured as separate ‘boxes’, now the priority is compatibility. Any new system must integrate into the overall digital network, not create another closed data island.

What this changes for Ukraine, Israel, and future wars

The Ukrainian ‘Delta’ became an example for the US of how an army under constant pressure can adapt faster than large bureaucratic structures. This does not negate the technological superiority of the American military-industrial complex, but shows: in modern warfare, the winner is not only the one with more expensive systems, but the one who quickly connects intelligence, analysis, and strike.

For Ukraine, this is an important political and military signal. Its experience is no longer just being studied — it is being used as a basis for restructuring approaches in one of the most powerful armies in the world.

For Israel, the conclusion is no less direct. The massive use of UAVs, the cheapening of strike systems, the growing role of Iran in spreading drone technologies, and the constant threat of multi-level attacks require not only strong air defense but also a flexible management network. Separate batteries, radars, and operators must work as a single organism.

The main lesson of the Ukrainian front

The war against Russia has shown that digital integration becomes as important a resource as ammunition, armored vehicles, or aviation. When data from a drone quickly reaches a commander, when a target is confirmed without unnecessary delays, when the system itself helps shorten the path from detection to decision, the army gains an advantage that cannot be measured only by the amount of equipment.

Project Jailbreak is an acknowledgment that old standards no longer withstand the pace of new warfare.

Ukraine paid a huge price for this experience. But it is its frontline solutions that are now changing the mindset of allies and forcing the world’s largest armies to restructure their systems to a reality where a drone, sensor, operator, and weapon must act not separately, but as a single network.

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In 1734, the founder of Hasidism settled in Tovstom Israel ben EliezerIt is believed that It was here that he received his second name, Baal Shem Tov (abbreviated as Besht) and became known as a tzaddik and healer.

In his new article “Ukraine Incognita” revealed little-known facts about the Jewish history of the village of Tovste (Ukrainian: Товсто), which is in the Ternopil region. For those interested — here it is on the map.

This village is not as well known to travelers as Zalishchyky, Gorodenka or Chortkiv, but, according to researchers, it is no less interesting and definitely deserves attention.

In Hasidism this is called the “Besht’s revelation.”that is, the moment when he revealed to people his true face as a great tzaddik.

Hasidic traditions describe it this way:

“Then he (Israel ben Eliezer) settled in the holy community of Tlusta, where he was also a melamed (teacher in a cheder – religious school), and could not gather a minyan in his home, but received people and prayed with them.

He wore a “tuzlik” (Ukrainian) (a woolen bag for salt), and his toes stuck out of the holes in his shoes, because he was very poor. He used to immerse himself in the mikvah even in the month of Tevet (December-January according to the Gregorian calendar), and sweat would come out in drops the size of peas. Then people began to come to him, but he did not want to receive them.

One day, a madman or madwoman was brought to him, and he refused to let them in. At night, he was told that he had turned 36. In the morning, he began to count and discovered that this was indeed true. He accepted the madman, cured him, and left his occupation as a melamed, taking my father-in-law, of blessed memory, as a sofer. People from different places began to come to him.”

The term “baal-shem” was used by the people to refer to a person who knows the hidden name of God, has the power and means (“kelim”) with which he can address the Almighty. In another meaning, among Kabbalists, “baal-shem” is someone who uses the formulas of magic (practical Kabbalah) and natural remedies for healing. Baal Shem began as a professional healer, combining the knowledge of a doctor, psychologist and folk healer. He treated infertility, mental illness, exorcised demons and devils, and made amulets and potions.

Besht lived in Tlust (as Tovsta was called until 1944) almost until his move to Medzhybizh.

Hasidic traditions should be treated with great caution, as they contain many frankly fabulous and logical inconsistencies. But the fact remains that Hasidism, as a new religious movement, originated in Tovstom.

By 1930, the local Jewish community numbered 2,600 people, more than two-thirds of the entire population of the village. But by 1939, it had significantly decreased to 1,196 people.

The German occupation put an end to the history of the Jewish community of Tlusty. The Nazis created a ghetto in the village, where, in addition to locals, they drove Jews from neighboring Zalishchyky, Horodenka, Yagilnitsa, Chortkiv and others.

On May 27 and June 6, 1943, the entire population of the ghetto was exterminated in two mass executions. Taking into account the executions of previous years, almost 5,000 people were tortured in the village in total.

Traces of this tragedy can be seen in the old Jewish cemetery. In addition to the mass graves of the tortured, there are bullet holes on the matzevah gravestones.

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Three Crises, One Political Deadlock

US President Donald Trump once again faced that part of world politics that cannot be pushed through with a single statement, loud promise, or public ultimatum. Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, and Iran have become three areas where the expectation of a quick result has collided with protracted negotiations, tough interests of the parties, and a reality where every concession has a price.

According to The New York Times, the Trump administration was counting on faster progress on several international initiatives. However, by mid-2026, it became clear: neither Russia’s war against Ukraine, nor the situation in Gaza, nor the conflict around Iran are moving according to the scenario of quick political victories.

For the Israeli audience, this topic is especially important. It is not only about Washington and its diplomatic reputation. American policy directly affects Israel’s security, pressure on Iran, the future of Gaza, the stability of Ukraine, and the entire balance of power in the Middle East.

Why promises turned out to be easier than negotiations

Trump came to power with a well-known political formula: complex conflicts can be quickly stopped if you act tough, confidently, and directly. In the public sphere, it sounded impressive. But international crises rarely end because one side wants a beautiful date or a loud result.

Iran is in no hurry to close questions on nuclear and missile programs. Russia shows no readiness for an honest peace with Ukraine. In Gaza, even after the truce and the release of hostages, issues of governance, security, reconstruction, and further Israeli military presence remain unresolved.

This is where the main problem arises: diplomacy requires not only announcing a plan but also daily pressure, control, working with details, and sometimes the willingness to admit that the other side is simply stalling.

Iran and the Strait of Hormuz: negotiations without a final point

According to the publication, after the announced ceasefire on April 7, the US hoped to quickly reach agreements with Iran, including on sensitive security issues and the Strait of Hormuz. But negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs continue, and there is no final decision.

For Israel, this is not an external topic, but a matter of its own security. Any weakening of pressure on Iran is perceived in Jerusalem through the prism of threats from the Iranian axis, missile programs, proxy groups, and regional instability.

Tehran, according to experts, may deliberately delay the negotiation process. The logic is simple: if Washington does not want to return to large-scale military actions, and the American public does not support a new war, then time becomes a tool of pressure.

Such tactics are well known in the Middle East. The side that is not in a hurry often gains additional leverage. The side that promised a quick result gradually finds itself in an uncomfortable position.

Ukraine: the promise of ‘within 24 hours’ shattered by a war of attrition

Another painful example is Russia’s war against Ukraine. Trump previously stated that he could end this conflict within 24 hours of taking office. But 16 months after the inauguration, a peace agreement has not been reached.

This is an important detail. The war that the Kremlin is waging against Ukraine has long ceased to be a conflict that can be closed with one meeting or one deal. There is a front, occupation, war crimes, security guarantees, the fate of territories, sanctions pressure, Europe’s position, and Kyiv’s fear of an imposed peace.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as noted in the material, has already spoken about fatigue from endless negotiations. At the same time, the Russian side, according to the publication’s interlocutors, advocates the creation of a permanent diplomatic mechanism with working groups and regular meetings.

In practice, this may mean not moving towards peace, but an attempt to delay the process, fix diplomatic activity, and at the same time maintain pressure on Ukraine.

In this context, NAnews — News from Israel | Nikk.Agency considers the Ukrainian direction not as a distant European topic, but as part of the overall picture: if the aggressor gets the opportunity to buy time, this is seen in Moscow, Tehran, and the Middle East.

What Thomas Graham says

Former American diplomat Thomas Graham believes that a full-fledged negotiation process is necessary to end the war. According to him, the conflict is ‘ripe for resolution,’ moods in Moscow have changed, the front line has stabilized, and economic problems in Russia are accumulating.

But even such an assessment does not mean automatic peace. The negotiation process is not just a table, flags, and statements for the press. It is hard work with conditions, guarantees, control of implementation, and understanding that every pause can be used against Ukraine.

For Israel, this experience is also important. Any country living next to a constant threat understands: a bad agreement is sometimes more dangerous than the absence of an agreement if it gives the enemy time to regroup.

Gaza: the truce did not become a political solution

A separate direction is the Gaza Strip. Despite the release of hostages and the truce between Israel and Hamas, the further implementation of the plan proposed by Trump has effectively stalled.

According to journalists, the new Palestinian administration has not yet begun full-fledged work in the sector. The region’s reconstruction program remains on paper, and Israel continues military operations. This shows that even an important humanitarian and military result does not automatically turn into a sustainable political architecture.

For Israeli society, this sounds extremely practical. You can achieve a truce, you can return some hostages, you can reduce the intensity of hostilities. But if issues of Gaza’s governance, demilitarization, border control, the role of Hamas, and international guarantees are not resolved, the conflict remains open.

The main lesson for Washington and Israel

Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security, noted that foreign policy rarely yields quick results. According to him, what matters is not the loud announcement, but the consistent implementation and management of the process.

This is perhaps the main conclusion of the entire situation. Peace plans, roadmaps, and political statements work only when there is a daily system of pressure, diplomacy, and control behind them.

The Trump administration is now facing difficulties on three key fronts. Ukraine has not achieved peace. Gaza has not received a sustainable new governance model. Iran has not given a final answer on issues directly affecting regional security.

For Israel, the conclusion is even harsher: you cannot build security solely on the expectation of quick American decisions. Washington remains the main ally, but the Middle East, Ukraine, and Iran show the same thing — opponents of democratic peace know how to wait, delay, and use negotiations as a weapon.

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“We want to pay tribute to the man who saved hundreds of Jews,” — said the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Azman.

Andrey Sheptytsky in 2008, the Jewish community of Ukraine recognized him as a Righteous One.

November 1 marked 80 years since the death of the Ukrainian Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskywho was one of the most significant religious figures in Ukraine at the end of the 19th – first half of the 20th century. Sheptytsky was not only a spiritual leader, but also proved himself to be a real hero, saving Jews from Nazi persecution. However, despite his actions, he was never given the title “Righteous Among the Nations” in Israel.

Hero in the Shadows: Saving Jews during the War

With the outbreak of World War II, Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky and his closest associates launched a secret mission of mercy, hiding dozens of Jews in monasteries and other religious institutions. One of the most famous cases is the Metropolitan’s sermon on November 21, 1942, when he called on his followers to resist violence and renounce the killing of innocents. This was a bold statement under the conditions of Nazi terror, and many priests of the time took it as a guide to action.

With Sheptytsky’s consent, a significant number of Jews hid in Greek Catholic monasteries and even in the metropolitan residence. He ordered the hiding of more than 300 Jewish children (in particular, the son of Lvov rabbi Izakael Levin Kurt, who later named his sons Andrey and Klimenty) and valuable Jewish documents.

In rescuing the Jews, he was helped, among others, by Joseph’s sister Veter (in 1946 she was imprisoned by the communist regime for a total of 30 years) and his brother Kliment (37 Jews; another 16 Jews were in a shoe factory that belonged to the Students; arrested by the Soviet regime of 1947).

It should be noted that the Metropolitan hid this saving action of his from most of the clergy because circumstances required it. Rabbi David Kagane writes with undisguised sympathy about the noble behavior of Andrei Sheptytsky during the war in his “Diary of the Lviv Ghetto.”

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“Thou shalt not kill” is one of the most important commandments to which the Metropolitan called his followers in this dark time.

The feat of Klimenty Sheptytsky

Andrei Sheptytsky’s brother, Klimenty, made a huge contribution to the salvation of Jews, for which he was posthumously awarded the title “Righteous Among the Nations” in 1996. In a factory owned by the Studites, Andrei’s brother set up a secret hideout for more than 30 Jews, risking his own life. His selfless actions remain one of the shining examples of human kindness and courage.

Yad Vashem and the non-recognition of Andrei Sheptytsky

In Israel, at the request of David Kagane, the issue of awarding Andrei Sheptytsky the title “Righteous Among the Nations” was considered. However, in a vote in 1981, of the 13 commission members, 5 supported the awarding of the title, 6 opposed it, and 2 abstained, including Kagane himself. The reasons for the refusal were “support for the SS division “Galicia””, accusations of “ideological closeness to Nazism” and the opinion that “the metropolitan could have done more to save the Jews.”

Contrary to the often widespread assertion, Metropolitan Andrei did not express any official support for the creation of the Galicia division. It should be noted that the Metropolitan agreed to send priest-chaplains there for the spiritual service of the soldiers.

The decision caused mixed reactions.

Attempts to recognize Sheptytsky as a Righteous Among the Nations continued after that, but without success, including in 2007. In response, in 2008, the Jewish community of Ukraine recognized him as a Righteous One..

Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Azman emphasized the importance of memory about such people.

“We want to pay tribute to the man who saved hundreds of Jews“- said the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Azman on this occasion. “We must fight not only anti-Semitism and xenophobia, but also remember our heroes and remind the younger generation about them“.

In honor of Sheptytsky, the “Tree of Life” was planted near the Brodsky synagogue in Kyiv.

In 2012, the lower house of the Canadian Parliament unanimously recognized the Metropolitan’s contribution to human rights, noting that he saved more than 160 Jews. In 2013, the Anti-Defamation League posthumously honored Sheptytsky for his “courage and heroism” in saving Jews with the Jan Karski Award, which was accepted by his relative, Professor Jerzy Weiman.

Conclusion

Andrey Sheptytsky remained for many people a symbol of courage and mercy, capable of heroic deeds to save lives. His story is a reminder of the strength of spirit and the importance of showing humanity even in the most difficult conditions. It is difficult to say why he was never recognized as a Righteous Among the Nations, but his contribution to saving hundreds of lives will remain unforgettable.

“The memory of heroes like Andrei Sheptytsky should be passed on from generation to generation,” note the authors of NAnovosti.

The Metropolitan’s Influence on Modern Society

The actions of Andrei Sheptytsky remain relevant today. His actions inspire new generations not only in Ukraine, but also beyond its borders. It is important to remember historical figures who embody humanistic values ​​and strive to preserve their legacies in modern times.

Count Andrey Sheptytsky ChSVV (baptized Roman Maria Alexander; July 29, 1865 – November 1, 1944) – head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Metropolitan of Galicia, Archbishop of Lviv (1901-1944). Bishop Stanislavovsky (1899-1900). Doctor of Law (1888) and Theology (1894); Maecenas. One of the outstanding leaders of the Ukrainian church and national movement of the first half of the 20th century, a representative of the Sheptytsky count family.

During the First World War he was arrested by Russian troops (1914) and taken to Russia. After returning to Lviv, he became a co-founder of ZUNR (1918). In 1919 he was interned by the Polish authorities.

The process of beatification began in 1955. Metropolitan Andrei’s brother, Count Lev Sheptytsky, and his wife were killed by the Bolsheviks after the annexation of Western Ukraine, and their son Andrzej was later killed at Katyn. Vladyka died on November 1, 1944 from cerebral edema caused by a complication of influenza. He was buried in the Cathedral of St. George in Lviv; his funeral became a mass demonstration.

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“Not About the War”: The book of Jewish defender of Ukraine Maksym Shvartsman was presented in Chernivtsi on the 3rd anniversary of his death at the front - July 21, 2026 - Новости Израиля

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NAnews presents a news overview of the story of Tzvi Hirsh (Grigory), a 32-year-old soldier of the 34th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who died defending Ukraine on the Kherson front line.

His death is not just a tragedy — it is a symbol of unity between the Jewish and Ukrainian peoples in the struggle against Putin’s aggression.

A man of light, strength, and contradictions

Tzvi Hirsh was born in Odesa, studied at the Jewish school “Or Avner – Chabad”, and was raised in an atmosphere of tradition and communal life. He began working at the age of 15 and never tolerated laziness in himself or others. His dream was to open a restaurant and earn a Michelin star, but life led him to the battlefield.

“He rarely spoke about emotions, but proved his love through actions — care, presence, loyalty,” his friends recall.

Family and children

Grigory left this world too soon. But he left behind the memory of a strong, radiant person whose will to live never faded. He became the father of two children — Lev (5 years old) and Alisa (4 years old) — parts of himself that nothing can destroy.

He dreamed of being their support, of building a future with them. Instead, he became a hero, sacrificing his life for their safety.

A hero without pathos

According to the Chief Rabbi of Odesa and Southern Ukraine, Avraham Wolff, Hirsh was an integral part of the community:

“Tzvi Hirsh gave his life with true self-sacrifice — as a Ukrainian soldier and a proud Jew. He was with us from childhood and has now departed as a hero.”

The sorrowful news was shared on June 6, 2025, by chaplain Yakov Sinyakov, who also arranged for the body to be returned to Odesa without autopsy, in accordance with Jewish law. The funeral will take place following Halacha.

Rabbi Avraham Wolff and the local Jewish community are organizing the funeral.

The Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine offers its sincere condolences to the family, friends, and comrades. We share this unspeakable grief.

How Israel and Ukraine are connected through lives

The story of Tzvi Hirsh is one of many confirming the deep connection between Israel and Ukraine. On the website NAnews – Israel News, we regularly publish materials about Jews defending Ukraine and Israeli aid to the country.

We report not just on facts, but on people who embody resilience, faith, and love. Tzvi Hirsh is a symbol of such people.

Community response

The Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine was the first to announce the tragedy and express deep condolences:

“Blessed is the True Judge. Baruch Dayan HaEmet.”

The Jewish community of Odesa is preparing the funeral, and words of support are coming from all over the world — especially from Israel, home to thousands of people with Ukrainian roots.

NAnews — what brings us together

The editorial team of NAnews – Israel News expresses its condolences to Grisha’s family, his children, friends, and fellow soldiers.

His story is a reminder: war is not abstract politics — it is real human lives. And in these lives, we find shared pain and a shared future — for Jews, Ukrainians, and all who refuse to accept darkness.

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On May 31, 2026, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine reported a series of visits to the Jewish community of Odessa. Over the course of one week, the city hosted several high-ranking international guests — representatives from Israel, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

For Odessa, this is not just a protocol story. Against the backdrop of war, security threats, and growing concerns about anti-Semitism, such meetings show that the Jewish community of Ukraine remains a visible part of the international agenda.

Israeli Ambassador Michael Brodsky visited the Chabad Or Avner Lyceum

On May 31, 2026, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Israel to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, visited the Jewish community of Odessa. His visit was related to the ceremonial events marking the end of the school year at the Chabad Or Avner Lyceum.

Brodsky addressed the students, teachers, and graduates. He wished the youth success, courage, and great achievements in the new stage of life.

Why this visit is important for Israel and Ukraine

For the Israeli audience, there is an important context here. Odessa is one of the symbolic centers of Jewish history in Eastern Europe. The city is associated with Jewish culture, religious life, the Zionist movement, literature, and the destinies of thousands of families whose descendants now live in Israel.

Therefore, the visit of the Israeli ambassador to a Ukrainian Jewish school is not just a diplomatic gesture. It is a signal of support to the community that continues to educate children, celebrate holidays, preserve tradition, and build the future even in wartime conditions.

After the celebrations, Michael Brodsky met with the rabbi of Odessa and Southern Ukraine, Avraham Wolff. The parties discussed the current challenges facing Jewish communities in Ukraine, as well as further cooperation between the Israeli Embassy and the Jewish community of Odessa.

German Ambassador Heiko Toms met with children from ‘Mishpacha Ukraine’

The day before, the community was visited by the German Ambassador to Ukraine, Heiko Toms. In Odessa, he met with the city’s rabbi, representatives of the Jewish community, and the children of the ‘Mishpacha Ukraine’ orphanage.

The diplomat’s conversation with the children was particularly emotional. They thanked the German people for the support, safety, and care they received during their stay in Germany at the beginning of the full-scale war.

For children who have experienced evacuation, anxiety, and separation from their usual lives, such words have personal meaning. This is not abstract diplomacy, but the experience of concrete assistance.

Heiko Toms, in turn, emphasized the importance of supporting Ukrainian children. He confirmed his readiness to assist in ensuring that they can live under a peaceful sky and have a happy future.

In the middle of this story, it is especially noticeable how the themes of Ukraine, Israel, the Jewish community, and European responsibility converge at one point. Such stories are what Nikk.Agency — Israel News | Nikk.Agency considers not as separate diplomatic visits, but as part of a broader picture: who supports Ukrainian Jews today, how international solidarity works, and why Odessa remains important for Israel.

Lord Henry Byron Davies discussed anti-Semitism and community security in Odessa

Another distinguished guest of the Jewish community was a member of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament, Lord Henry Byron Davies, Baron Davies of Gower. He arrived in Odessa during the Black Sea Security Forum.

In the Chabad synagogue, there was a warm meeting between Lord Davies and Rabbi Avraham Wolff. The conversation focused on modern forms of anti-Semitism, challenges for Jewish communities in different countries, and the Ukrainian experience of maintaining unity in wartime conditions.

Odessa’s experience as an example of resilience

Jewish communities in Ukraine have found themselves in a reality where religious, social, and humanitarian work intersects with security issues. Synagogues, schools, children’s institutions, and community centers are forced to live not only by the calendar of holidays and educational programs but also by the logic of wartime.

In this sense, Odessa has become one of the important examples. The city continues to be a southern center of Jewish life in Ukraine, despite missile threats, anxieties, and the constant pressure of war.

For Israel, this experience is also important. Israeli society understands well what it means to maintain education, religious life, and community support under threat. Therefore, the Ukrainian story here is perceived not as a distant foreign news item, but as a close and understandable narrative.

What a week of international visits shows

The visits of representatives from Israel, Germany, and the United Kingdom to the Jewish community of Odessa show several things at once.

Firstly, Ukrainian Jewish communities remain part of the international dialogue. They are heard not only in Kyiv or Odessa but also in Jerusalem, Berlin, and London.

Secondly, issues of security, education, and combating anti-Semitism are once again coming to the forefront. This is especially important against the backdrop of Russia’s war against Ukraine and growing tensions in the world.

And finally, Odessa itself continues to play the role of a city where Jewish history is not limited to the past. There are schools, children, rabbis, community projects, international contacts, and people who try to maintain normal life where war tests society’s resilience every day.

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The phrase “Ukraine is the homeland of Hasidism” sounds emotional, but it has a serious historical basis. Modern encyclopedic and academic sources indicate that Hasidism originated in the 18th century on the lands of present-day Western and Central Ukraine — primarily in Podolia and Volhynia, around the circle of Baal Shem Tov and his disciples. It is important to clarify: the formula of “37 main dynasties, of which 15 originate from the territory of present-day Ukraine” is more of a popularization scheme than a strict universally accepted academic standard. But the general conclusion does not change: the Ukrainian space was one of the main centers of the emergence and early development of the Hasidic world.

In Hasidism, they usually talk about courts or dynasties — lines of rebbes, which were most often named after their cities of origin. Over two and a half centuries, there have been many such lines: modern lists include dozens and hundreds of names, not a single canonical register. Therefore, when it comes to “37 main,” it is more correct to understand this as a conditional list of the most notable historical houses, rather than a definitive list that everyone equally recognizes.

Jews from Ukraine: Ukraine as the homeland of Hasidism – 37 main dynasties and their Ukrainian roots

The Ukrainian cradle of Hasidism and why there is a debate around the number “37”

The founder of Hasidism, Israel ben Eliezer, better known as Baal Shem Tov (circa 1700–1760), was associated with Podolia and Medzhybizh. After his death, the movement was systematized by Dov-Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch (died in 1772), and his disciples spread the new religious impulse across Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. It was from here that large family dynasties later grew — the Chernobyl, Ruzhin, Kosov-Vizhnitz, Breslov, and others.

Therefore, the thesis that Ukraine is one of the main historical homelands of Hasidism is quite justified.

The fact is that the list of exactly 37 “main” dynasties is not a universally accepted scientific standard: old Jewish encyclopedias highlighted several key lines like Lubavitch, Chernobyl, Ruzhin-Sadigura, Lublin, and Kotzk, while modern reference books show a much more complex picture with many branches and offshoots.

Nevertheless, if we take a working list of the 37 most notable lines, the Ukrainian presence is indeed enormous. This circle usually includes dynasties that originated in Belz, Boyan, Breslov, Vizhnitz, Zvyagel, Makhnovka, Mukachevo, Nadvorna, Rakhmastrivka, Savran, Sadigura, Skvira, Skole, Chernobyl, as well as historical centers of Berdichev and Medzhybizh. Many of them, after the Holocaust and subsequent migrations, moved their living centers to Israel and the USA — primarily to Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Brooklyn, Monsey, Kiryas Joel, and New Square.

CHABAD: a separate line with a very strong Ukrainian connection

CHABAD-Lubavitch is usually not considered a Ukrainian dynasty in the narrow geographical sense, because its historical centers are primarily associated with Lyady and Lubavitch. The founder of the movement was Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745–1812), who created a special intellectual branch of Hasidism at the end of the 18th century; the name CHABAD itself comes from the words Chochma, Bina, Da’at.

But without CHABAD, the history of Ukrainian Hasidism would be incomplete. Shneur Zalman was a disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch, which means the spiritual roots of the movement are directly connected with the Ukrainian environment, where early Hasidism received powerful development. Moreover, the founder of CHABAD himself is buried in Hadiach, in the Poltava region of Ukraine, and this place remains a point of pilgrimage.

here’s something interesting about this – “A “Cohen Bridge” was built in Ukraine for $1,000,000: in Hadiach, the CHABAD shrine was made accessible to the descendants of ancient priests — what it is and for what purpose”

In the 20th century, CHABAD turned into a global movement with its main living center in New York and a wide network of communities in Israel, the USA, Europe, and the countries of the former USSR. Therefore, in an article about the Hasidic dynasties of Ukraine, it is logical to highlight CHABAD separately: not as a Ukrainian dynasty by place of origin, but as a world movement closely connected with Ukraine spiritually and historically.

Ukrainian dynasties: from Podolia and Volhynia to Bnei Brak and New York

The earliest center of memory remains Medzhybizh — the city of Baal Shem Tov. Medzhybizh did not become a separate largest modern mass dynasty, but symbolically it is one of the main points of the entire Hasidic history. Berdichev is associated with the name of Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev (1740–1810), one of the most famous early righteous men of Hasidism. This is also more of a historical center and spiritual name than the largest modern court.

The Breslov dynasty, or Breslov, is associated with Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810), the great-grandson of Baal Shem Tov. Its peculiarity is that after the death of Rabbi Nachman, no new continuous line of rebbes arose in the classical sense, but the movement did not disappear: on the contrary, it lives through his books, the teaching of personal prayer, and the famous pilgrimage to Uman. In the 21st century, Breslov is a global network of communities, especially noticeable in Israel and among pilgrims who annually come to Ukraine.

The Chernobyl dynasty is one of the most important overall. It was founded by Menachem Nachum Twersky of Chernobyl (circa 1730–1797), a disciple of both Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezeritch. It was from the Chernobyl house that a whole cluster of separate lines emerged: Skver, Rakhmastrivka, Tolna, Trisk, as well as genealogically related branches of Makhnovka. This is one of the main examples of how one Ukrainian dynasty turned into a whole family of world courts.

From the Chernobyl circle grew the Skver dynasty — today it is especially known for its closed community in New Square, New York. Rakhmastrivka originates from Rakhmastrivka and now has centers in Jerusalem and Brooklyn. Tolna comes from Talne, and Trisk — from Turisk in Volhynia. Makhnovka, originating from Makhnovka, today has its headquarters in Bnei Brak and remains a lively, notable line with thousands of families.

No less influential was the house of Ruzhin. It was founded by Rabbi Israel Friedman of Ruzhin (1796–1850), and it was this line that gave part of the Hasidic world the very “royal” style of the court. From the Ruzhin house came Boyan, Sadigura, Chortkov, Husiatyn, and other branches. The Boyan dynasty, formed in the 19th century, is today firmly associated with Jerusalem. The Sadigura line, originating from Bukovina, was the most important force in the region before the Holocaust, and today its continuation is also primarily associated with Israel.

The Vizhnitz dynasty originated in Bukovina. It is associated with Menachem Mendel Hager (1830–1884), and the line itself grew out of an earlier Kosov tradition. Today, Vizhnitz is one of the largest and most influential courts in Israel, with a strong presence in Bnei Brak, Jerusalem, and American communities. Next to it stands Nadvorna, founded by Mordechai Leifer (1835–1894) in Nadvorna; now it is not just one center, but a whole network of branches, especially noticeable in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem. Zvil, originating from Zvyagel, is not large in numbers, but remains a very respected name in Jerusalem.

The Ukrainian space is also associated with Belz, Mukachevo, Savran, and Skole. The Belz dynasty was founded by Shalom Rokeach (1779–1855) at the beginning of the 19th century, and today it is one of the largest Hasidic courts in the world, restored after the Holocaust in Israel. Munkacs / Mukachevo is associated with strict Carpathian traditionalism. Savran is an old Podolian line, and Skole today more often appears in international lists under the form Skole/Skolye, which is important for historical accuracy.

In the middle of this whole story, it is especially noticeable that NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency approaches the topic not as a museum exotic, but as a living bridge between Ukraine and Israel. Because for the Israeli audience, this is not an abstract history of Eastern Europe: a significant part of today’s centers of Ukrainian-origin dynasties is located precisely in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, and the pilgrimage to Uman, the memory of Chernobyl, Belz, Sadigura, and Vizhnitz have long become part of the modern Jewish religious world.

All 37 notable dynasties: names, dates, origins, and where their centers are now

If you compile a working list of the 37 most famous lines, it is more convenient to divide it into several large groups.

The first is the earliest system-forming centers: the circle of Baal Shem Tov in Medzhybizh, the school of the Maggid of Mezeritch, early Karlin-Stolin with Aaron of Karlin (1736–1772), Lubavitch/Chabad, founded by Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745–1812), as well as Polish intellectual lines Lublin, Pshiskha, and Kotzk. They are not always the most numerous today, but without them, it is impossible to understand how Hasidism turned from a spiritual movement into a system of hereditary courts. Chabad today is a global network with a center in New York; Karlin-Stolin maintains strong positions in Israel and the USA; Kotzk and Lublin live more as lines of influence in other dynasties.

The second large group is the Ukrainian-Bukovinian-Volhynian belt, which makes Ukraine so important in Hasidic history. This includes Berdichev, Medzhybizh, Breslov, Chernobyl, Skver, Rakhmastrivka, Tolna, Trisk, Ruzhin, Boyan, Sadigura, Vizhnitz, Kosov, Nadvorna, Makhnovka, Zvil, Belz, Mukachevo, Savran, Skole, and related lines. It is here that you can see how from the towns and villages of present-day Ukraine grew courts that today live in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Brooklyn, Monsey, London, and Antwerp.

The third group is Polish, Galician, Hungarian, and post-war world dynasties. Here, at the forefront are Ger, founded by Yitzchak Meir Alter (1798–1866), Alexander, Bobov, Sanz, Klausenburg, Sighet, Satmar, Pupa, Tosh, Modzitz, Radzyn-Izbica, Biala, Amshinov, as well as Jerusalem anti-Zionist circles like Shomer Emunim, Toldos Aharon, and Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok. There is already less Ukrainian origin here, but these lines determine the modern numbers and political-religious weight of the Hasidic world. Satmar, for example, formed as a separate force under Joel Teitelbaum (1887–1979), was restored in New York after the war and is today considered one of the largest Hasidic groups in the world. Ger is now one of the largest courts in Israel. Bobov and Klausenburg are especially noticeable in the USA and Israel.

A brief guide to the dynasties and their current status

• Chabad-Lubavitch — late 18th century, Shneur Zalman of Liadi, today a world center in New York.
• Breslov — turn of the 18th–19th centuries, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the strongest center of memory — Uman, and living communities are especially noticeable in Israel.
• Belz — early 19th century, Shalom Rokeach, today the largest center in Jerusalem.
• Chernobyl — 18th century, Menachem Nachum Twersky, continues through many branches.
• Skver — Ukrainian origin, modern center in New Square, New York.
• Rakhmastrivka — Ukrainian branch, centers in Jerusalem and Brooklyn.
• Tolna and Trisk — old Volhynian lines, preserved as smaller but living branches.
• Ruzhin — mid-19th century, Israel Friedman, gave rise to the entire “house of Ruzhin”.
• Boyan — one of the Ruzhin branches, historically Bukovina, today center in Jerusalem.
• Sadigura — also a Ruzhin line, today primarily associated with Israel.
• Vizhnitz — 19th century, Hagers, one of the largest Israeli courts in Bnei Brak.
• Nadvorna — 19th century, Leifers, today a network of branches in Israel.
• Makhnovka — Ukrainian line, modern center in Bnei Brak.
• Zvil — historical Ukrainian court, especially respected in Jerusalem.
• Mukachevo — Carpathian line, played a significant role in Hungarian-Carpathian Hasidism.
• Savran — old Podolian line, today small but historically significant.
• Kosov — ancestor for Vizhnitz, Ukrainian by origin line.
• Ger — Polish dynasty, today one of the most influential courts in Israel.
• Alexander — very large Polish dynasty before the Holocaust, then restored.
• Bobov — Galician line, strong in Brooklyn.
• Sanz — 19th century, Chaim Halberstam, gave many offshoots.
• Klausenburg — post-war restoration, noticeable in Netanya and the USA.
• Sighet — important Hungarian-Romanian line, ancestor for Satmar.
• Satmar — largest anti-Zionist dynasty with centers in New York and Israel.
• Pupa, Tosh, Modzitz, Radzyn-Izbica, Biala, Amshinov — smaller but stable lines with centers mainly in Israel and North America.
• Shomer Emunim, Toldos Aharon, Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok — already largely Jerusalem dynastic circles, defining the appearance of the radically conservative part of the Haredim.

Why this history is important for Israel right now

For the Israeli reader, the history of the Hasidic dynasties of Ukraine is not just a story about the past.

It is an explanation of why Ukrainian cities and towns occupy such a place in the religious memory of Israel, why Uman gathers pilgrims annually, why the names Belz, Vizhnitz, Boyan, or Satmar are heard in the Knesset, in the religious press, in debates about the state, and in the everyday life of ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods.

Historical Ukraine did not give Hasidism a periphery, but one of its central foundations.

And if you remove the controversial number “37” as too rigid a formula, the picture becomes even stronger. Ukraine was not just one of the sites, but a space where Hasidism took shape as a mass movement, and then gave rise to entire families of dynasties, whose living centers are now located in Israel and the USA. From Medzhybizh and Breslov to Bnei Brak and Brooklyn — this is one long historical line that remains part of the Jewish world today.

The history of Ukraine and the Jews: why the conversation about Hasidism cannot be separated from the history of the country itself

The history of the Jews on the lands of present-day Ukraine began long before the appearance of Hasidism.

Encyclopedic sources indicate that Jewish settlements existed here even in ancient times — in Crimea and in the Greek colonies of the northern Black Sea coast. Later, Jewish life developed in the cities and towns of different historical eras — from Kievan Rus and the Lithuanian-Polish period to the Russian Empire and Austria-Hungary.

Jewish life became especially noticeable in the early modern period, when on Ukrainian lands the very world of shtetls, markets, fairs, crafts, and religious scholarship was forming, which would later be called shtetl. It was in this environment that the human and cultural landscape was formed, from which both the Hasidic courts and the powerful tradition of Eastern European Jewry in general emerged.

The shtetl was one of the key forms of Jewish life in Eastern Europe, and the Ukrainian waves of pogroms in the 20th century and then the Holocaust became a catastrophe for this world.

At the same time, the history of the relationship between the Jews and the Ukrainian lands was never simple or linear.

There were periods of growth, trade, religious flourishing, and cultural coexistence, but there were also severe catastrophes. One of the early tragedies was the Khmelnytsky Uprising of 1648–1649, during which many Jewish communities in Ukraine were destroyed or devastated; this is recorded in reference articles on Podolia and in historical descriptions of individual cities.

And yet, after these upheavals, Jewish life on Ukrainian lands did not disappear, but began to grow again.

By the 18th century, there was already a dense network of communities here, and it was against this background that Hasidism arose. Hasidism became exceptionally popular precisely in Ukraine and in the first decades covered most of the traditional Jewish population of this region. In other words, Ukraine was not the periphery of this process, but one of its central stages.

In the 19th century, the significance of Ukrainian lands for the Jewish world was colossal. By the end of the 19th century, more than a quarter of the entire Jewish population of the world lived on ethnic Ukrainian territory. This means that the conversation about the history of Jews in Ukraine is not a narrow regional topic, but part of world Jewish history.

That is why names like Berdichev, Uman, Belz, Chernobyl, Breslov, Vizhnitz, or Sadigura still resonate far beyond Ukraine itself.

But the 20th century brought a new blow.

Waves of violence, civil war, pogroms of 1905 and especially 1918–1921 hit the Jewish communities of Ukraine hard. Then the Nazi occupation turned a significant part of this history into a history of destruction.

After the Holocaust and the Soviet period, Jewish life on Ukrainian lands could no longer return to its former scale. Many centers were destroyed, many families emigrated, religious life was under pressure for decades. But the memory did not disappear.

After the collapse of the USSR, in independent Ukraine, the revival of community, cultural, and religious life began; by the end of the 1990s, hundreds of Jewish organizations and community structures were operating in the country.

That is why the history of Jews in Ukraine is not only a history of tragedies. It is a history of deep rootedness, religious creativity, trade, the Yiddish language, shtetl civilization, pilgrimage, Hasidic dynasties, and then the severe ruptures caused by the violence of the 20th century.

For the Israeli audience, this is especially important: many lines that today live in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Safed, Brooklyn, or Monsey trace their origins to the cities and towns of present-day Ukraine. In this sense, the connection between Ukraine and the Jewish world is not a museum topic, but a living part of modern Jewish memory.

Which cities in Ukraine today remain the main points of Hasidic life

If we talk not about old names on the map, but about real modern presence, then in Ukraine today we can highlight several main points of Hasidic life, memory, and pilgrimage.

In the first place, undoubtedly, is Uman. It is here that the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov is located, and the city remains the main center of Breslov pilgrimage. In 2025, Ukraine officially recognized the grave of Rabbi Nachman in Uman as a national heritage site, and the city continues to receive tens of thousands of pilgrims, primarily on Rosh Hashanah.

A separate place is occupied by Hadiach in the Poltava region. For CHABAD, this is one of the most important points on the map of Ukraine, because it is there that Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of CHABAD-Lubavitch, is buried. Hadiach remains a place of pilgrimage and a symbolic connection of CHABAD with Ukrainian land.

If we talk about active community life, then important cities remain Kyiv, Dnipro, Odessa, Chernivtsi, and Kharkiv, where Jewish religious centers and structures continue to operate, including those associated with Hasidic and Chabad traditions. The European Jewish Congress directly notes the continued existence of Jewish communities in Ukraine, despite the war and migration.

At the same time, it is necessary to understand the difference between a historical center of a dynasty and a modern Hasidic court. Cities like Belz, Breslov, Chernobyl, Vizhnitz, Nadvorna, Skvira, Rakhmastrivka, Zvyagel, Mukachevo, and Skole remain extremely important as places of origin of dynasties and historical memory, but the main active dynastic headquarters of these lines today are mostly located in Israel and the USA. Therefore, the modern map of Hasidic Ukraine is primarily Uman, Hadiach, and major cities with living communities, rather than the return of old courts in their full classical form.

Read more in our regular section “Jews from Ukraine“.

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Ukraine in May 2026 sharply intensified strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. According to Bloomberg, cited by Ukrainian and international publications, eight out of the ten largest oil refining facilities in Russia were attacked in a month, and the total number of strikes on oil facilities became a record since the beginning of the full-scale war.

This no longer looks like a series of separate episodes. It is about a consistent strategy aimed at reducing Russia’s ability to refine oil, produce fuel, support military logistics, and earn from energy exports.

What happened in May: dates, targets, and geography of strikes

In May, Ukrainian strikes targeted a number of Russian refineries and related facilities. Reuters specifically mentioned Yaroslavl, Tuapse, Perm, Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan, Syzran, Novokuibyshevsk, Kirishi, Ufa, Astrakhan, the Moscow refinery, as well as oil terminals and storage infrastructure among the affected directions.

On May 7, according to Reuters, the Perm refinery stopped processing after a drone attack. This plant processed about 12.6 million tons of oil in 2024, or approximately 250 thousand barrels per day.

On May 15, Ukrainian drones struck a refinery in Ryazan. Ryazan is located about 200 km southeast of Moscow, which again showed that the risk zone for Russia has long gone beyond the frontline regions.

By the end of the month, the strikes continued. On the night of May 31, Ukrainian drones, according to Reuters, hit the Saratov refinery, the Lazarevo pumping station in the Kirov region, and a fuel facility in Matveyev Kurgan in the Rostov region. Russian authorities acknowledged fires and damage, although they traditionally did not disclose the full extent of the damage.

Why repeated strikes have become an important part of the strategy

The key point of May is not only the number of attacks but also their repeatability. According to Bloomberg, Ukraine intensified strikes on the same targets to complicate quick repairs and prevent Russian oil refining from quickly returning to previous volumes.

According to this logic, the attack ceases to be a one-time demonstration of capabilities. It turns into pressure on the production cycle: damage, repair, new strike, new stoppage, increased costs, disruption of supply schedules.

For the Israeli audience, there is a clear analogy here. In modern wars, infrastructure has become no less important a target than military bases. Fuel is the movement of equipment, supply of the front, operation of aviation, transportation of ammunition, and the ability of the state to withstand a prolonged campaign.

Oil refining falls: why this is painful for Moscow

Reuters reported on May 20 that the combined capacity of Russian refineries that fully or partially stopped operations after the strikes exceeded 83 million tons per year. These enterprises provide a significant share of Russian gasoline and diesel, so the consequences are felt not only on paper but also in logistics, exports, and the domestic fuel market.

According to Reuters calculations, from January to May, Ukrainian attacks disabled about 700 thousand barrels per day of primary processing capacities at 16 refineries. This is twice as many affected plants as in the same period of 2025.

Separately, Reuters wrote that in May, diesel production in Russia decreased by another 10% after a similar decline in April. For a country trying to wage a large war, this is no longer just industrial statistics but an indicator of pressure on the resource base.

Strike not only on refineries but also on logistics

Ukraine strikes not only at processing facilities. Oil storage facilities, terminals, pipeline infrastructure, and objects related to fuel transportation are also hit.

This is especially important in the context of Crimea and the occupied territories. When not just one plant is destroyed, but an entire chain—production, storage, transportation, delivery—Russia faces problems not only with repairs but also with fuel distribution.

That is why reports of disruptions and restrictions on gasoline sales in Crimea amid strikes on Russian infrastructure do not look like a random episode but part of a broader picture. Reuters also noted on May 31 that Russian authorities in Crimea announced restrictions on gasoline sales amid ongoing attacks on fuel infrastructure.

In the middle of this topic, it is important to see not only the military but also the regional meaning. NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency considers such events as part of a large link Ukraine — Middle East — energy — security: the less stability Russia has in the fuel system, the harder it is for it to finance and continue the war, which directly affects countries monitoring the balance of power in Europe and around Israel.

Why May became a turning point for Russian oil infrastructure

The May attacks show a change in the Ukrainian approach. Strikes are not only on primary processing facilities, which can sometimes be restored relatively quickly, but also on more complex secondary facilities, storage, and logistics nodes. This increases the cost of repairs and extends recovery times.

Bloomberg, according to Ukrainian retellings of the publication, assessed May’s processing in Russia as falling by about 13% year-on-year, to one of the lowest levels in many years. Ukrainian publications, citing Bloomberg, wrote that the figure could become the lowest since October 2009.

What this means for Ukraine and its allies

For Kyiv, such a strategy has several goals.

The first is to weaken the Russian military machine without direct confrontation with each unit on the front. If the army loses fuel stability, it is harder to move equipment, supply occupation groups, and maintain the pace of operations.

The second is to hit Russia’s income and industrial confidence. Oil and oil products remain one of the foundations of the Russian economy, which means that attacks on processing and exports hit the financial base of the war.

The third is to show that the Russian hinterland is no longer safe. Perm, Yaroslavl, Ryazan, Saratov, Kirishi, Kirov region—this is no longer the front line. This is Russia’s internal industrial map, which now also lives under the pressure of Ukrainian long-range capabilities.

Israeli perspective: why this story matters beyond Ukraine

For Israel, this topic is important not only as news about the war in Europe. Russia remains a player in the Middle East, has ties with Iran, and continues to use energy resources as a political tool.

When Ukraine consistently reduces Russian capabilities in oil refining, it strikes not only at gasoline or diesel. It reduces the space for Russian power—military, economic, and diplomatic.

Therefore, May 2026 can be considered the month when the Ukrainian strategy of long-range strikes on the Russian oil system became noticeably larger in scale. The statistics, geography, and repeatability of the attacks show: this is no longer a series of random hits, but systematic pressure on infrastructure, without which the war for Russia becomes more expensive, more difficult, and less sustainable.

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