Dnieper (formerly Dnepropetrovsk), one of the largest cities in Ukraine, has long been a center of Jewish life and continues to play an important role today due to its significant Jewish community. Dnepr is currently home to the largest Jewish community in Ukraine, She, according to some sources, numbers up to 50 thousand people.
German OSINT analyst and journalist for Bild Julian Repke reported that the Russian army achieved success in the Donetsk direction due to a number of problems in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, according to him, In Ukraine, no one is thinking about capitulation and is only “morally preparing to defend the Dnieper”.
Military expert, pilot instructor and retired Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel Roman Svitan in his commentary for the website TSN described the current situation on the eastern front. He emphasized that Russian troops were able to advance due to certain factors, but it is too early to talk about a threat to large cities such as Dnepr and Zaporozhye.
Roman Svitan, a military expert, commenting on the situation in Pokrovsk, noted that Russian troops are trying to advance, but are facing serious resistance. He pointed out that although Julian Repke, a journalist for Bild, is somewhat dramatizing the situation, the military must prepare for the worst-case scenario. Nevertheless, Svitan emphasizes that the current Russian offensive is limited, and their efforts are aimed at expanding the penetration towards Kurakhovo and Ugledar.
“The Russians understand that they have hit an impassable wall and are trying to expand their positions from the southern flank,” says Svitan.
In the coming months they will try to hold the Pokrovsk-Ugledar axis, but, in his opinion, the enemy will face difficulties due to the autumn-winter bad weather.
The expert emphasizes that Russia has no chance to advance towards the Dnieper or Zaporozhye this year“They have no time for these directions,” Svitan asserts. Russia's main task now is to approach Pokrovsk and resolve the issue with the Ugledar-Kurakhov bridgehead.
Svitan also adds that next year the Russians may try to advance to the borders of the Donetsk region, including Pokrovsk and other cities in the northwestern Donbass. However, even in the worst case, if Russia “wipes out” Pokrovsk, as it did with Bakhmut, Svitan is sure that they will not be able to move forward until they solve the problem with the Ugledar-Kurakhov garrison.
“There is no serious threat in sight for Dnepr and Zaporozhye in the coming months,” the expert concluded, noting that the Russian army is not ready for such deep offensive operations.
The Russian army is able to advance on the eastern front thanks to aviation, mainly through the use of long-range KAB bombs, and infantry units such as rifle units. Military expert Roman Svitan notes that almost all Russian equipment is destroyed before it reaches the line of contact: “The equipment does not even reach the line of combat contact. We burn it out by the dozens every day.
“However, the Russians manage to advance thanks to so-called “meat assaults” by infantry.
Svitan emphasizes that the advance can only be stopped by mass destruction: machine guns, mines, and artillery. He notes that the use of 155-mm cluster shells could significantly change the situation: “As soon as the 155th cluster shell arrives in sufficient quantities… we will unwind them.” Autumn-winter weather conditions, such as slush and the disappearance of foliage, will also complicate the maneuvers of the Russian army.
At the same time, according to General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukrainian troops managed to temporarily stop the advance of the Russians in the Pokrovsk area. Over the past six days, the enemy has not advanced a single meter: “Our strategy is working.” Syrsky adds that the Ukrainian army was able to weaken the Russian forces and reduce the intensity of their offensive.
Despite the enemy's numerical and technical superiority in aviation, artillery, tanks and ammunition, Syrsky notes that this forced Ukraine to become “smarter and more effective in waging war.”
The largest Jewish community in Ukraine is located in the city Dnieper (formerly Dnepropetrovsk). She has about 50 thousand people.
This community is not only the largest in the country, but also one of the most active. Dnipro is home to one of the world's largest Jewish centers, Menorah, which includes synagogues, museums, cultural and educational institutions, and supports Jewish traditions, culture and religious life.
The center of Jewish life in Dnipro is the Menorah Jewish Cultural Center. Opened in 2012, the complex is the largest Jewish community center in the world. It includes synagogues, museums, educational institutions, halls for social events, restaurants, and a hotel. The complex is also closely associated with the local Jewish charity, the Sholom Foundation, which supports educational programs, social initiatives, and assistance to low-income families.
In 2014, Dnipro became a major humanitarian and medical center for people affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine when Russian aggression began in Donbas. The situation worsened significantly in 2022 when full-scale war broke out. Dnipro, located just 200 km from the combat zone, became a stronghold for providing assistance to thousands of refugees and victims of Russian aggression.
Since the invasion, the city's Jewish community has been actively involved in providing aid to both Jews and non-Jews. The Menorah has become an important humanitarian center, organizing the evacuation of citizens, providing temporary shelter and support. Thanks to international assistance from Jewish organizations such as the American Jewish Committee and the Joint, funds have been raised to support the victims and to evacuate Jews to Israel and other safe countries.
Dnipro has been repeatedly hit by Russian missile attacks. One of the most famous incidents occurred in January 2023, when a Russian missile destroyed an apartment building, killing more than 40 people and injuring dozens. The incident drew international condemnation and became a symbol of the suffering of civilians as a result of the war.
In 2022, after the war began, the Jewish community of Dnipro not only maintained its activities, but also significantly increased its humanitarian efforts. For example, the Menorah and the city's synagogues became centers for distributing food and medical aid, as well as coordinating evacuations, especially towards Israel. Support from Israel and the Jewish Diaspora played a key role in providing assistance.
Thus, the Jewish community of Dnipro, despite the devastating consequences of the war, continues to be an important element of humanitarian support for thousands of people in the region, providing assistance and participating in the restoration of the city in the face of ongoing aggression.
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