Ukraine Warns Jewish Pilgrims Against Uman Travel Due to Ongoing Conflict
Ukrainian officials are urging Jewish pilgrims to avoid traveling to Uman for Rosh Hashanah this year due to the ongoing war with Russia. Igor Taburets, governor of Ukraine’s Cherkasy Region, where Uman is located, warned that the conflict presents significant risks to travelers. While authorities are not preventing pilgrims from visiting, Taburets noted that security measures are being increased, including the establishment of an operational headquarters.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry issued a similar warning, emphasizing the dangers posed by Russia’s military aggression. “It is impossible to guarantee the safety of foreign citizens on the territory of Ukraine,” the ministry said. Restrictions under martial law include curfews, movement limitations, and bans on mass gatherings. Officials also highlighted the lack of bomb shelters, damaged infrastructure, and a shortage of medical personnel in Uman.
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Each year, tens of thousands of Jewish pilgrims visit Uman, a major pilgrimage site for Hasidic Jews, to pray at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. In 2022, approximately 20,000 pilgrims entered Ukraine through Moldova, but this year Moldova has declined to allow pilgrims to pass through, citing security costs and limited capacity. A new route through Romania is being prepared as an alternative.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have discussed preparations for the pilgrimage, but US and Ukrainian officials continue to urge caution.
