Vladislav Sein, a 21-year-old member of the Jewish community in Dnipro, was killed last month while volunteering in the Ukrainian army in its war with the Russians.
Vladislav was very proud of his Jewish identity and stood out among his fellow soldiers when he would put on tefillin every day at the front.
“We mourn the death of a hero,” the Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine said in a statement. “He was sent to the front and there sacrificed his life for the independence and freedom of Ukraine.”
Word of his death reached the Jewish community in the last few days and many shuls recited Kaddish and held Torah shiurim in his memory.
According to his friends, Vladislav registered as a volunteer already in the first days of the war. He was very proud of his Jewish identity, and stood out among his comrades, as he would put on tefillin every day at the front. On his uniform was emblazoned with a blue-yellow flag and on it an inscription in Hebrew “Ukraine”.
Vladislav was known in Dnipro as a talented judoka. He has been competing in this sport since he was 6 years old and has won numerous championships in tournaments in Dnipro and throughout Ukraine.
According to estimates, Vladyslav is one of dozens of Jewish soldiers who lost their lives fighting against the Russian invasion.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
Baruch Dayan Emet. Sad. Had his whole life ahead of him. Unfortunately there are Jewish soldiers on both sides. One can only hope it ends before more are lost due to Putin’s Tsar delusions.
The Ukrainian Chief Rabbi said that any Jewish Russian soldier who surrenders once arriving at the front, will be taken care of, and not have to sit in a POW camp or return to Russia after the war. Wonder if the goons in Russia will allow the Rabonnim there to do the same thing.