OP head joins Passover celebration with Kyiv Jewish community

Budanov with Rabbi Markovych. Photo: JCC BEIT Menachem

On April 7, 2026, Kyiv’s Jewish community, JCC BEIT Menachem, celebrated Passover. Joining the festivities were Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov, his deputy Iryna Mudra, and Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi.

The Jewish community described the senior officials as “honored guests.” The statement said that Passover serves as a reminder that “freedom always triumphs.”

The overwhelming majority of comments under the community’s Facebook post were sharply negative.

“This is not a Ukrainian holiday. There is no need to impose it on us – let the Jews celebrate it,” wrote Nataliia Babenko.

“I wonder, do they celebrate Ukrainian holidays in Israel? Of course not! So why are they imposing something foreign on us? I do not accept it!” Nadyn Sloboda said.

“Ukraine was and will remain Ukrainian. Do not impose Jewish holidays on us. We are Ukrainians, not Jews,” wrote Liubov Viktorovna.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, in honor of Passover, Zelensky received rabbis from across Ukraine at the Presidential Office.

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