17,000 Hasids Already in Ukraine: Pilgrims Ignore Shelling Threats Ahead of Rosh Hashanah

Around 17,000 Hasidic pilgrims have already arrived in Ukraine despite the ongoing threat of Russian shelling in border areas. This was stated by Andrii Demchenko, press secretary of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, on the "Ranok.LIVE" channel, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. According to his data, the main flow of foreign believers is passing through border crossings adjacent to Moldova, in particular through "Starkozache" — a territory that, according to reports, was attacked by Russia on the day the statement was published.

Rapid Growth in the Flow Within Days

The peak of arrivals of organized groups of pilgrims fell on the last few days. Border guards are recording a rapid increase in the flow: if previously several hundred foreigners were passing through the crossings per day, then in recent days the figure has grown to almost 8,000 people per day. This surge is explained by the approaching one of the main holidays of Judaism — Rosh Hashanah, which in 2026 will begin on the evening of September 11 and last until the evening of September 13.

Two-Century Tradition of Pilgrimage to Uman

Every year on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, thousands of Hasids from various countries around the world travel to the city of Uman in Cherkasy Oblast to visit the grave of the Tzadik Nachman. The pilgrimage to this place, known as the "Uman Tzadik," has continued for over two centuries and remains one of the largest religious events in Ukraine. This year, as in previous years, pilgrims are arriving under martial law, which significantly complicates the logistics and security of the event.

Israeli Police and Reinforced Patrols in Uman

Police from Israel have already arrived in the city, where they will, together with their Ukrainian colleagues, guard the pilgrimage area. Foreign law enforcement officers, together with State Emergency Service (SES) rescuers and units of the National Guard of Ukraine, will patrol the city until the holiday is fully over. This format of joint security provision has become a practice in recent years and allows for coordinating actions in conditions of mass gatherings of people from dozens of countries.

U.S. Embassy Urges Citizens to Cancel Their Trip

Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine issued an official warning: American citizens were urged to cancel their trip to Uman due to the risk of shelling and the insufficient number of bomb shelters in the city. Diplomats also reminded of the curfew and movement restrictions in force in the region, introduced as part of martial law. Despite these warnings, the flow of pilgrims, according to border service data, is not decreasing.