Antisemitic Attack in Kyiv: Jewish Guest Assaulted, Video Goes Viral
Two Ukrainian women knocked off a Jewish man's hat and mocked him in public — then proudly uploaded the footage to TikTok. After 2 million views and growing concerns of copycat attacks, they were located and detained
TwitterA rare act of antisemitic aggression has stirred concern in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, after two women assaulted a visiting Jewish man from Israel by knocking his traditional Sabbath hat off his head, laughing, and making antisemitic remarks — all while filming the incident and later uploading it to Tik-Tok.
The victim was a guest of Rabbi Avraham Bleich, son of Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Yaakov Bleich. The incident took place over two months ago, as the two walked home from a Friday night meal. At the time, the women ran off after the attack, and the matter seemed to fade.
But last week, the assailants uploaded the video to social media — where it quickly went viral in Ukraine, amassing over 2 million views. The popularity of the clip prompted immediate concern among the Jewish community, fearing copycat attacks.
“I’ve been living in Kyiv for 27 years, and antisemitism here is usually very rare,” said Rabbi Avraham Bleich. “But when I saw the video go viral, I realized this could encourage others to harass Jews in the streets. I had to act.”
Rabbi Bleich filed a formal complaint with the police. Authorities moved quickly to identify and locate the women, who reportedly boasted online about their actions. They were detained shortly thereafter.
Rather than push for harsh punishment, the Jewish community requested that the women delete the antisemitic video and instead publish a public apology and a message urging people not to target Jews.
“The goal isn’t revenge,” Rabbi Bleich said, “it’s to stop the trend before it spreads.”
The incident stands out precisely because of its rarity. Since the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukrainian society — and particularly Kyiv — has shown relatively low levels of overt antisemitism. But this event, amplified by social media, has served as a chilling reminder of how quickly online hate can cross into real-world harm.