Budanov celebrates Purim with Jews

Budanov with Rabbi Yonatan Markovich. Photo: Facebook JCC BEIT Menachem KYIV

On March 18, 2025, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kirill Budanov, visited the Kyiv synagogue to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim.

"The festive meeting opened with the reading of the Scroll of Esther (Megillat Esther), after which warm communication continued, exchanging news and multiplying joy," the text says. In addition to Budanov, the Jewish holiday was attended by former speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov.

Purim is a holiday commemorating the mass killing of their enemies by the Jews in Susa (one of the oldest cities in the world, located in present-day Iran). The event took place in the 5th century BCE.

During the celebration of Purim, according to the Talmud, it is customary to drink wine until a person can no longer distinguish whether he is pronouncing curses on Haman or blessings on Mordechai.

Earlier, the Union of Orthodox Journalists wrote that the Main Intelligence Directorate chief lit a Hanukkah candle in the center of the Jewish community using rocket debris.

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