Russian Attacks Kill Rescuer, Damage Synagogue in Ukraine

Russian airstrikes overnight and into early Thursday killed a rescue worker, injured several others, and caused damage to a synagogue in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials.

Residents of Kyiv reported hearing air raid sirens and explosions as the Ukrainian air force said Russia launched 130 drones across multiple regions.

Emergency services confirmed that one rescuer was killed and five others wounded while battling a fire during a second wave of attacks on the village of Zelenyi Gai in the Kharkiv region. “Another crime against rescuers,” the agency said in a statement posted on social media.

In Kyiv, eight people were injured, and the foreign ministry reported that a synagogue was damaged during strikes on three city districts. “Russian terror spares no one, including religious communities,” the ministry stated, adding that 640 religious sites and 67 faith leaders have been killed or destroyed since the invasion began in February 2022.

Reporters in Kyiv witnessed residential buildings with shattered windows and burnt vehicles as locals cleared debris from the blast sites.

In the eastern Sumy region, officials said two railway workers were injured, while the state rail operator confirmed train disruptions in border areas.

Russia’s defense ministry claimed it intercepted 139 Ukrainian drones overnight, mainly targeting its western territories. The governor of the Ryazan region, southeast of Moscow, reported a fire at an industrial facility after videos circulated online showing flames at an oil refinery.

The latest exchange of strikes followed a day after Russian shelling killed seven people, including two children, and triggered widespread power outages across Ukraine.