Kharkiv Jewish philanthropist dies of gunshot head wound

Police investigate reports community leader Vadim Vishnevsky may have committed suicide

Illustrative photo of handgun projectiles (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons public domain)
Illustrative photo of handgun projectiles (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons public domain)

Vadim Vishnevsky, a prominent member of the Jewish community of Kharkiv in Ukraine, has died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Vishnevsky was rushed to hospital on November 20 from his office, the Ukrainian Vesti newspaper reported.

Police are investigating the shooting, which according to some accounts may have been self-inflicted, Vesti reported. An unnamed source told the Interfax news agency that Vishnevsky left what appeared to be a suicide note.

Vishnevsky was vice president of the Jewish Foundation of Ukraine and head of the Council of Regions of the Jewish Community of Ukraine. He also was one of the largest shareholders of Kharkiv Golden Gate Bank.

He is survived by a wife and three children, according to a report on the Ukrainian Jewish news website evreiskiy.kiev.ua.

Vishnevsky was among the initiators of a monument in memory of approximately 15,000 Jews whom the Nazis murdered at the Drobytsky Yar killing site near Kharkiv. He also sponsored renovation work at a historic Kharkiv synagogue, and social projects within the Jewish community and for the general population.

Most Popular
read more:
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.