Israeli law enforcement officers have arrived in the city of Uman in Cherkasy Oblast, where they will work alongside the Ukrainian police to maintain order and safety in the area of the Hasidic pilgrimage throughout the Jewish New Year holiday of Rosh Hashana. This was reported on September 6, 2026, by RBC-Ukraine, citing the official Facebook channel of the Cherkasy Oblast police. The foreign law enforcement officers will remain in the city until the celebrations are fully over, which, according to the traditional calendar, will take place on September 11–13.
Coordination and joint patrols
According to the Cherkasy Oblast police, before the operation began, representatives of the law enforcement agencies of both countries held a coordination meeting, during which specific measures to ensure public order in the pilgrimage area were agreed upon. Israeli police officers will conduct joint patrols of Uman's streets together with their Ukrainian counterparts, rescuers from the State Emergency Service (SES) and members of the National Guard of Ukraine. In addition to direct patrolling, the foreign law enforcement officers are also carrying out informational work among arriving pilgrims, informing them about the rules of conduct and safety measures.
The tradition of the Hasidic pilgrimage in Uman
For more than two centuries, Uman has remained one of the most important centers of Hasidic pilgrimage in the world. Every year during Rosh Hashana, thousands of believers from Israel, the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and other countries gather in the city to make a pilgrimage to the grave of the Tzadik Nachman of Brisk (Brest-Litovsk), the founder of the "Nachmanim" Hasidic dynasty. The scale of the event makes security a key concern for both local and central Ukrainian authorities, as well as for the Israeli embassy in Kyiv.
Context: foreign ministry warning about risks amid the war
It is important to note that as early as July 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine issued a public appeal to believers, warning that under the conditions of the ongoing war it is impossible to fully ensure the safety of pilgrims in Uman. The ministry urged Hasidim to weigh the risks before traveling. Nevertheless, the pilgrimage tradition has been preserved, and additional forces, including Israeli police officers, have been brought in to carry it out, demonstrating both sides' desire to maintain this institution, which is significant for the religious communities of Ukraine and Israel, with the maximum possible protective measures.
Operational situation and security measures
According to published footage from Uman, the Israeli law enforcement officers arrived in standard uniform, with accreditation badges on blue lanyards and special patches. In the photographs distributed by the official account of the Cherkasy Oblast police, the foreign officers can be seen already taking part in joint patrols of the city's streets. Local authorities emphasize that all measures are aimed at creating a safe atmosphere for the thousands of pilgrims who will begin arriving in Uman in the coming days. The Rosh Hashana celebrations are scheduled for September 11–13, 2026.
