A Molotov cocktail was hurled at a shul in Kryvyi Rih on the final night of Pesach, marking the latest in a troubling series of antisemitic incidents sweeping across parts of Ukraine.

According to Chabad emissary and city Rabbi Liron Edri, the shul’s advanced security system — recently upgraded through support from Chabad World Assistance (CWA) and the Jewish Agency’s Security Fund — detected the threat and prevented what could have been a devastating blaze.

“Thanks to the reinforced windows installed in recent months, a major fire was averted,” Rabbi Edri said. “The building was saved, but the message behind the attack is deeply concerning.”

Surveillance footage reportedly showed multiple Molotov cocktails being thrown at the shul. While no injuries were reported and structural damage was minimal, the incident has raised fears of an emerging pattern of targeted antisemitic violence.

Just weeks ago, a similar attack occurred in Mykolaiv, a southern Ukrainian city near the Black Sea, where Molotov cocktails were thrown at another shul. Rabbi Edri believes these incidents are not isolated.

“We fear this is a coordinated trend,” he said. “There seems to be an effort to intimidate Jewish communities across Eastern Europe, and we must remain vigilant.”

Local police have opened an investigation into the Kryvyi Rih attack and have pledged to bring those responsible to justice. Rabbi Edri commended the authorities for their immediate response and urged continued vigilance.

“We will not let fear silence our faith,” he said. “Light will dispel darkness. I am grateful to the police and government officials who arrived swiftly and assured us that this will be thoroughly investigated.”

The attack comes amid a broader uptick in antisemitic acts throughout Ukraine. The nation’s ongoing conflict with Russia has fueled political instability and nationalist sentiment, providing fertile ground for extremist rhetoric in some regions.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)