Video: How Chabad Became Ukraine’s Emergency Lifeline

When Russia attacked, the decades-old Chabad network instantly flipped from religious outreach to a massive rescue and relief operation, saving tens of thousands. Watch their story.

26 Feb 2026, 04:41 by COLlive Reporter · COLlive

By COLlive reporter

When Russian missiles started raining down on February 24, 2022, they didn’t just shatter peace—they shattered a three-decade-long project to resurrect Jewish life in Ukraine.

But the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, which had tirelessly built schools, community centers, and homes for children since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, didn’t pack up. Instead, their sprawling network was instantly weaponized for a different kind of fight: Survival.

In the chaos that engulfed cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odessa, the Jewish community was immediately plunged into danger. Overnight, Chabad turned into a non-stop, round-the-clock rescue operation.

Using everything from chartered buses and trains to private cars and ambulances, Chabad coordinated the evacuation of more than 40,000 people from the hottest war zones. They even supplied funds to other aid groups just to make sure “no one would be left behind.”

The most nail-biting missions involved saving hundreds of children from two major orphanages—one in Odessa and one in Zhytomyr. Rabbis, Rebbetzins, and staff members risked their lives on treacherous, days-long journeys with infants and teens, enduring “unimaginable fear.” The Odessa kids were eventually relocated to Germany, while the Zhytomyr orphanage found safe haven in Israel.

To manage the unprecedented scale of the crisis, the Jewish Relief Network Ukraine (JRNU) was established, running an emergency command center in Israel with hotlines fielding hundreds of desperate calls daily.

While many aid groups rushed in, Chabad quickly became the go-to operation. They were the only group inside Ukraine with the deep local “knowledge, resources, and connections to get things done” and save lives. They partnered with the Israeli government and a host of other groups, Jewish and non-Jewish, to deliver aid.

With men aged 18 to 62 required to stay and fight, thousands of women and children poured across borders. Chabad set up temporary refugee centers in Romania, Moldova, and Poland, as well as safe zones in Western Ukraine for those unable to flee the country.

The relief effort is still massive, providing for over 35,000 people today through the distribution of food packages, soup kitchens, and grocery vouchers. They also supply vital prescription drugs for chronic conditions like high blood pressure and heart issues, along with medical care, mental health counseling, and temporary housing.

Amidst the fear, Chabad tried to inject moments of normalcy. They organized massive Purim and Passover celebrations for refugees across Europe, Israel, and Ukraine, providing a much-needed mental break.

When the fall semester approached, they faced an immense challenge: Getting kids back into classrooms. This meant repairing damaged school buildings and, crucially, renovating or constructing government-mandated bomb shelters—complete with generators, furniture, food, and water.

Thanks to this Herculean effort, thousands of children streamed back into schoolhouses on September 1st, exchanging the terror of their homes for the “warm smiles of teachers and classmates.”

During the High Holidays (Tishrei), many rabbis returned to their communities, coordinating festive meals and distributing holiday packages with support from the Rohrer family, offering essential respite from the stress and uncertainty.

The fight now is against the cold. With Russia targeting the power grid, power outages and a critical lack of potable water threaten thousands of lives. Chabad’s current mission is focused solely on surviving the winter: purchasing large generators to turn community centers into warm, powered lodges, digging wells to ensure a supply of safe drinking water, and distributing tens of thousands of specialized winter survival kits to families nationwide. As the conflict grinds on, Chabad stresses that without continued funding, they cannot ensure their promise: that not a single member of Ukraine’s Jewish community will be abandoned.

Video: How Chabad Became Ukraine’s Emergency Lifeline

When Russia attacked, the decades-old Chabad network instantly flipped from religious outreach to a massive rescue and relief operation, saving tens of thousands. Watch their story.

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