US urges citizens to avoid Uman during Jewish New Year pilgrimage
The US State Department has advised American citizens against traveling to Uman, Ukraine, during the annual Hasidic pilgrimage for Rosh Hashanah, citing Ukraine's high security alert level.
The US Embassy in Ukraine has announced that the State Department recommends US citizens refrain from traveling to Uman in Cherkasy region during the period when Hasidic pilgrims annually gather at the grave of Rebbe Nachman to celebrate the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. The news was reported by "Yevropeiska Pravda."
This year, Rosh Hashanah falls on September 11–13. Washington emphasized that the recommendation to avoid travel to Uman during this period is linked to Ukraine's currently active highest level of security warning.
The statement noted that since the start of the war, Russian airstrikes have hit civilian buildings and critical infrastructure facilities across Ukraine, including in Uman.
Shelter shortage
Local authorities report that Uman lacks sufficient shelters to accommodate all the pilgrims expected to arrive. In addition, martial law remains in effect in Ukraine, and curfew rules along with movement restrictions will also affect pilgrims traveling to Uman, the statement said.
It was also recalled that in autumn 2024, after several months of negotiations, Moldovan authorities did not allow Israeli pilgrims to cross Moldovan territory en route to Ukraine for Rosh Hashanah celebrations. Separately, on August 23, American diplomat Paul Houston began serving as the US chargé d'affaires ad interim in Ukraine.
