A massive fire broke out overnight Friday at the Tziyun complex of the Chabad Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the Baal HaTanya, in Hadiach, Ukraine, causing extensive damage to the main beis medrash and the hachnasas orchim facilities run by Chabad shliach Rabbi Shneur Deitsch.

Local firefighters battled the large blaze for hours before bringing it under control, preventing what could have been an even greater tragedy.

B’chasdei Shomayim, there were no injuries.

Ukrainian police have opened an investigation into the cause. Two leads are being examined: a possible electrical short in the building’s wiring, or a possible link to the war and the sensitive security situation in the region amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Tziyun complex, Kever of the Baal Hatanya, the founder of Chabad Chassidus, serves as a spiritual hub year-round, hosting thousands of mispallelim, visitors, and refugees from across Ukraine and around the world, with a full hachnasas orchim operation providing meals, lodging, and Tfilos.

Rabbi Deitsch and community leaders have begun assessing the damage as they plan reconstruction, with hopes of restoring the beis medrash and hachnasas orchim as soon as possible.