Man arrested for arson at historic synagogue in Ukraine's Chernivtsi PHOTO

In Chernivtsi, a man has been detained after setting fire to the Sadgora Synagogue — one of the most significant Hasidic shrines in Ukraine.

According to the Telegram account of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine (UJCU), the suspect entered the synagogue in the Sadgora district while the guard briefly stepped away. He gathered religious books into a pile and ignited them. Police responded promptly and arrested him at the scene.

Initial investigations suggest the man had attempted a similar arson attack on a local church about a month earlier. Authorities noted he may be mentally unstable, though an official assessment of his mental state is not yet public.

The Sadgora Synagogue is a deeply historic and spiritual landmark. Built roughly 180 years ago and restored in 2017, it belongs to the heritage of the Sadigura dynasty — followers of the renowned Hasidic rabbi Israel Friedman of Ruzhyn. The building has long been considered one of the central places of worship and identity for Hasidic Jews. 

Jewish community leaders described the event as deeply shocking and heartbreaking. Inside the synagogue, burned books and charred interiors offered a painful image of destruction — a blow to a community already navigating a broader climate of threats.

By Tamilla Hasanova