The Chief Rabbi of Kyiv has pledged to stay and care for those who are unable to flee as Russian forces continue their assault on Ukraine’s capital.

Speaking to the JC, Rabbi Jonathan Markovitch revealed a woman aged 101 and another aged 104 are among the elderly members of the community left in the city under siege from Putin’s armies.

He also explained he is helping “everybody who needs help”, Jews and non-Jews alike, including opening up his synagogue basement to anyone seeking shelter.

Rabbi Markovitch said: “Most of the people that can run, they are not staying here. I understand them.

“But we are here to help those people that cannot get out from the country. We are here, alone, with those people that cannot leave.”

While feeding those attending the synagogue, the Chabad rabbi and his volunteers are also delivering food to those who cannot come. This includes an estimated 1,000 members of the community aged 80 or more, some so infirm they are unable to leave their homes at all.

He said: “We have 200 people in the community who cannot walk because they are seriously ill. They cannot move. They stay in their bed. We feed them.

“One lady, she is 101 years old, and the other 104 years old. They are at home because they cannot walk. They are at home and we bring them food.”

The synagogue is there for everyone in need, he said: “We help not just the Jewish people. We are helping here today everybody who needs help, because our synagogue has a basement and it’s the only basement in all the area, and a lot of people who want to hide when there’s panic, they come to the synagogue, and they have shelter.”

Rabbi Markovitch is determined to keep providing a Jewish life: “We have a kitchen and we are doing kosher food, and give it to all the people who need it. Shabbat of course, and all the services, we have. But I must say we don’t have lessons like it was before the situation. We just have the praying.”

Urging Jews around the world to help, Rabbi Markovitch says the community urgently needs money: “We need supplies. We need to buy food. Just for food. Food and water. That’s all. We can still find food, but we understand that in a few days all the stores will be empty. But now we can buy it.”

Rabbi Markovitch has served in his native Ukraine for more than 20 years. In 1972, his family emigrated to Israel where he served as a major in the army. He moved back to Kyiv with his family in 2000.

In 2020, the Ukrainian parliament awarded Rabbi Markovitch its Medal of Honour in recognition of his important contribution to public life.