Ukraine's GUR chief lights Hanukkah candles made from rocket debris

Budanov lights Jewish Hanukkah candles. Photo: Facebook/Yigal Levin

On December 25, 2024, Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, lit a special Hanukkah menorah at the Kyiv Jewish Community Center. The menorah was crafted from fragments of Russian weapons, according to Israeli military expert Yigal Levin, who shared the news on Facebook.

He described it as a "recently created special Hanukkah menorah by Ukraine’s Intelligence Directorate." Specialists from the Ministry of Defense constructed it using debris from downed drones and missiles that had been fired at Ukraine.

As a reminder, on Maidan, Vitali Klitschko lit the largest Hanukkah menorah in Europe. Previously, the UOJ reported that President Zelensky and Ukrainian rabbis lit Hanukkah candles at the Presidential Office.

Read also

Orthodox and Catholic bishops make joint visit to Mount Athos

The head of the Phanar blessed a joint pilgrimage to Mount Athos by Roman Catholic and Orthodox bishops.

UOC Kryvyi Rih Eparchy marks 30th anniversary

Metropolitan Yefrem led the anniversary Divine Liturgy in Kryvyi Rih.

Ostapenko: Everyone in UCCRO feels fine except the “FSB UOC”

The director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve called the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches “a wonderful organization.”

Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates funds for treatment of 12-year-old girl

UOC believers raised UAH 20,000 for Anastasiia Mamchur as part of an eparchial charity campaign.

Shevchuk: We had to convince world UOC ban does not violate religious freedom

The UGCC head claims that by banning the UOC, the state is not violating religious freedom but merely protecting the Church’s faithful from Moscow propaganda.

Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million

Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.