On October 30, 2026, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine reported on Rabbi Yakov Sinyakov’s trip to Ukrainian servicemen in the east of the country. The chaplain visited the areas of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and the Pokrovske direction, met with the fighters, provided spiritual support, and delivered humanitarian aid.
Author: Lev Varshavsky, NANews.
Sinyakov did not come as an invited religious figure. He himself serves in the Ukrainian army, holds an officer rank, and heads the chaplain service of the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Federation did not specify the dates of the meetings, the number of units visited, or the composition and volume of the humanitarian cargo. The message states that the chaplain spoke with the servicemen and provided them with spiritual support directly in the areas of combat missions.
Chaplain among Ukrainian servicemen on the eastern front
Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Pokrovsk are located in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. Since 2014, this region has remained one of the main areas of armed confrontation with Russia. After the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, the battles have significantly escalated. For readers in Israel, it is important to understand that this is not an ordinary trip to military units in the rear, but a visit to areas associated with the active front.
The work of an army chaplain is somewhat familiar to Israelis from the military rabbinate of the IDF. However, the Ukrainian system is interfaith: spiritual assistance to servicemen is provided by representatives of different religious communities. At the same time, the chaplain does not necessarily work only with soldiers of his faith.
The Federation’s messages speak of helping Ukrainian defenders regardless of their origin. Judaism determines Sinyakov’s religious affiliation but does not limit the circle of people he helps.
Who is Yakov Sinyakov and how did he end up in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
In the official documents of the Ukrainian army, the rabbi is listed as Igor Sinyakov, also known by the Jewish name Yakov Pinchas. He is a long-time member of the Jewish community of Dnipro — a city known to Israelis for its large Chabad community, the “Golden Rose” synagogue, and the “Menorah” Jewish center.
Since 2022, Sinyakov has been traveling to servicemen, helping displaced persons psychologically, and delivering humanitarian cargo. In the summer of 2025, he signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, received official confirmation of the right to engage in military chaplaincy, and the rank of junior lieutenant. On October 12, the command announced his appointment as head of the chaplain service of the 7th Corps. He was awarded the presidential distinction “For the Defense of Ukraine.” The command called him the first official Orthodox Jewish chaplain of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Igor Sinyakov
In July 2023, Sinyakov visited servicemen near the border with Belarus and participated in the commemoration of Holocaust victims near the village of Bakhov in Volyn. He also conducted spiritual and psychological work with the fighters of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade “Cold Yar.”
Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine
In August 2023, according to previously published information, he conducted prayers and Torah classes with servicemen, participated in a ceremony with a shofar — a ritual horn familiar to Israelis from Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. On December 6, the Federation reported on his award with a commemorative sign of the 93rd Brigade. During the trips, the rabbi helped soldiers put on tefillin — prayer boxes with Torah excerpts.
In June 2024, Sinyakov again visited the servicemen of the 93rd Brigade. This work was supported by representatives of the Jewish community of Dnipro Yosef David Belyaev and Mikhoel Pinkus.
In November 2024, he visited Kharkiv, Izyum, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Pokrovsk. At that time, Ukrainian editions of Psalms — Tehillim, humanitarian aid, and FPV drones STALKER were delivered to the servicemen. These are drones controlled by the operator via camera image. The Federation did not report on the delivery of drones during the current trip.
Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine
Israeli contacts and the rabbi’s work with the military
In November 2025, Sinyakov represented the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Berlin at the first International Conference of Jewish Military Chaplains under the auspices of NATO structures. There, they discussed the psychological resilience of servicemen, spiritual support, and cooperation of chaplain services. Sinyakov established contacts with colleagues from Israel and NATO countries. At that time, he was called the only Jewish military chaplain of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but it is not possible to transfer this status to October 2026 without additional data.
7th Corps of the Air Assault Forces
In an interview on September 2, 2026, the rabbi talked about his family — his wife and two daughters, teaching martial arts, and using psychological knowledge in his work. With the fighters, he reads the Psalms of David, prays, and discusses experiences. Sometimes, the chaplain admitted, it is most important for a person to be listened to. He called Ukrainian servicemen “the hands of God in Ukraine.”
NANews — Israel News Nikk.Agency previously reported on Sinyakov’s appointment, his daily work with soldiers, and participation in the life of the 7th Corps.
The trip reported by the Federation on October 30 continues this long-term work. The number of people who received assistance and the specific military units visited by the chaplain are not specified in the published message.