As dramatic images of Russian troops moving into Ukraine sent shockwaves around the world on Thursday, a leading rabbi in Kiev offered shelter to dozens of people in his shul.

The Times of Israel reported today that Chabad Rabbi Jonathan Markovitch and his wife Inna stockpiled up to six tonnes of food as well as water, fuel, and 50 mattresses in their shul's basement. 

Rabbi Jonathan Benyamin Markovitch

Rabbi Jonathan Markovitch (Credit: Зацерковский Александр Витальевич)

Several dozens had already sought refuge in the shul. “There’s no bomb shelter here, but at least we can be together,” Rabbi Markovitch told the outlet and other Israeli media. 

Rabbi Markovitch also reportedly estimated hundreds of Jews remain in the Ukrainian capital. 

2E5AXAY

Rabbi Jonathan Benjamin Markovitch pictured on International Holocaust Memorial Day last year (REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko)

Meanwhile, Israel’s Jewish Agency opened a special hotline for Ukrainian Jews attempting to flee Ukraine for Israel and for their Israeli relatives. Sources told Haaretz it was "flooded" with requests. 

map ukraine

Russian attacks have been reported across Ukraine, including cities with significant Jewish populations such as Kharkiv, Odessa and Kiev

And the local rescue organisation, Hatzalah Ukraine, appealed for donations on the Chesed Fund platform, for medicine, food, fuel, rescue buses, sleeping bags and other supplies. 

The group warned of “many civilian casualties on the Ukrainian side and severe damage to homes and kindergartens.”