The small Russian Jewish community in Obninsk was left reeling Wednesday night after a brazen attack on their local synagogue.

According to the Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia, under cover of darkness assailants attempted to breach the synagogue’s main building by breaking windows and slamming locked doors. When these efforts failed, the perpetrators set fire to the synagogue’s electrical box causing significant damage to the building’s power system.

Thankfully, a swift response by local authorities and community members prevented further damage. Repairs were quickly undertaken, allowing the synagogue to announce that Shabbat evening prayers would proceed as scheduled. While no injuries were reported, the psychological impact on Obninsk’s Jewish community has been profound.

In 1945, the small town of Obninsk was established to house staff commissioned at the world’s first nuclear power plant to generate electricity for a power grid. Until its decommission in 2002, the Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant served as a research and development facility for the USSR, and played a crucial role in advancing nuclear technology during the Cold War.

The town of Obninsk itself grew alongside the power plant with nearly over 100,000 residents, serving as ca entral hub for nuclear research and education. It is home to several scientific institutes and universities focused on nuclear physics and engineering. By the time the town’s synagogue was established in 2020, approximately 400 Jews lived and worked there. Now the Jewish population boasts an estimated 800 residents with active minyanim.