Russian Bombings Damage Jewish School and Orphanage in Odesa, No Injuries Reported

An Odesa Jewish elementary school and a Jewish orphanage sustained severe damage from Russian bombings on Wednesday night, the Jerusalem Post reported, citing Southern Ukraine and Odesa Chief Rabbi Avraham Wolff and Chabad. The Chabad Ohr Avner school suffered a direct hit, rendering it unusable and leading to its temporary closure.

A Mishpacha Ukraine orphanage was devastated by nearby explosions, with caregivers rushing children to shelters just before a major blast shook the entire street.

No one was harmed in the barrage, according to Wolff. He described the urgency, saying the orphanage staff barely had time to guide the children to safety. 'We barely had time to close the door, and then the big explosion came.

It shook the entire street, but the speed with which we acted was more important than ever this time,' said Wolff. Wolff added that there was a direct and fatal hit right next to the orphanage. At the school, glass, window frames and furniture needed replacement or repair.

Students were temporarily transferred to another Jewish school, where some had to sit in hallways and shelters for classes. With support from the global Jewish community, the school could resume operations within a few months, Wolff stated. The community includes around 50 Holocaust survivors, many over 90 years old.

Russian attacks have repeatedly targeted Jewish sites in Odesa. A suicide drone struck a synagogue there in August. In July 2023, Hillel International's building was hit by a missile.