Ukraine

Ukraine is home to the third-largest Jewish community in Europe and the fifth-largest in the world. The Jewish population resides primarily in Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Odesa, as well as in numerous smaller cities and towns.

In the 19th century, Ukraine was densely populated by Jews, who played a prominent role in the development of commerce, industry, and particularly key urban centers such as Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv. During the Second World War, more than half of Ukraine's Jewish population was decimated. This community suffered more severely from the Holocaust than any other in the former Soviet Union.

The collapse of communism and the establishment of an independent Ukraine laid the foundation for the revival of Jewish life. Jewish communities have been restored, and synagogues and mikvehs are now active in many cities.