The US Department of State has published an official recommendation urging American citizens to refrain from traveling to Uman (Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine) during the annual Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement from the US Embassy in Ukraine. The document, distributed by the diplomatic mission, contains a direct warning about elevated risks to the life and health of foreign pilgrims who traditionally flock to the city to visit the grave of the Hasidic leader Rebbe Nachman of Brisk.
Military Strikes on Infrastructure and Religious Sites
In justifying its position, the US Embassy notes that since the start of the full-scale war, Russian armed forces have been carrying out airstrikes on civilian buildings and critical infrastructure across Ukraine. Diplomats emphasize that Uman is no exception: damage has been recorded in the city, including strikes in the immediate vicinity of places of religious worship. According to the American side, this factor makes it unsafe for pilgrims to remain in the city, especially during periods of large gatherings.
Lack of Bomb Shelters and the State of Martial Law
A separate point in the warning is the US Embassy's citation of the inadequate civil defense infrastructure in Uman. According to local authorities quoted by American diplomats, the city lacks enough bomb shelters to accommodate all expected travelers during the pilgrimage period. In addition, martial law remains in effect in Ukraine, which entails a curfew and restrictions on the movement of citizens. According to the statement, all these measures will directly affect foreign pilgrims and limit their freedom of movement on the holiday.
Rosh Hashanah 2026 Dates and Recommendations for Those Who Still Decide to Travel
The State Department document clarifies the holiday's chronology: Rosh Hashanah in 2026 will begin on the evening of Friday, September 11, and end on the evening of Sunday, September 13. For those American citizens who, despite the official recommendation, still decide to visit Ukraine, the Embassy has prepared a list of additional precautions. In particular, pilgrims are advised to register in the travel notification system, monitor local air raid alerts, and have backup evacuation plans ready.
Special Entry Regime and Warnings from Ukraine's Foreign Ministry
In parallel with the American warning, Ukrainian authorities are also introducing additional restrictions. As RBC-Ukraine previously reported, a special regime for entry, exit, and movement will be in effect in Uman during Rosh Hashanah. A series of prohibitions aimed at ensuring public order is planned for the pilgrimage microdistrict. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, in turn, addressed Hasidim heading to Uman with an official warning about military risks and stated directly that it cannot guarantee full safety for foreign pilgrims amid the ongoing conflict.
Contradictory Data
The statements from both sides show a certain inconsistency in the signals received by potential pilgrims. On the one hand, the US State Department frames its recommendation as an unambiguous "do not travel," and the Embassy emphasizes that the risks make the trip inadvisable. On the other hand, Ukrainian authorities are not canceling the pilgrimage itself but are introducing a special regime and warning about risks, effectively acknowledging that the holiday will take place and the city will be hosting guests. Thus, for an American citizen planning a trip, a situation arises in which the official position of their government contradicts the very logic of organizing the event on the ground: the pilgrimage continues, but with the caveat that the state does not take on guarantees of safety. Differences in wording — "not recommended" on the American side and "we warn of risks" on the Ukrainian side — may be misleading regarding the degree of danger.
