Ukraine Intends to Prohibit Hasidic Pilgrimages to Uman

In a recent development, Ukraine has imposed restrictions on Israeli citizens' entry, particularly for pilgrims, in response to a new requirement introduced by Israel.

Israel, in July 2024, introduced a requirement for citizens of visa-free countries, including Ukraine, to submit documents for an ETA permit for stays up to 90 days. Ukraine considers this requirement as a negation of the visa-free regime between Israel and Ukraine, and has responded by imposing restrictions on Israeli citizens' entry.

The city of Uman, in the Cherkasy region of Ukraine, is a center of Hasidism and a pilgrimage site for Bratslav Hasidim. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a significant occasion for this religious movement, and thousands of pilgrims usually visit Uman for the annual pilgrimage.

However, in 2024, Ukraine decided not to allow foreign citizens, including Israelis, to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah due to security concerns amid the conflict with Russia. This decision was reported by The Jerusalem Post, citing Ukrainian sources.

Despite these warnings, more than 35,000 pilgrims visited Uman in September 2024 for the annual pilgrimage to Uman for Rosh Hashanah.

Kyiv is demanding financial support and cooperation from Israeli police regarding the ban on foreign travelers to Uman. However, there are no search results indicating which party supported the Ukrainian authorities' demand for such support.

Interestingly, Ukrainian officials mentioned that in 2024, Prime Minister Netanyahu personally asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to allow Israelis to travel to Uman. However, no such request was made in 2025. Without a request from Israel, Ukrainian officials have no reason to allow Israeli followers to travel to Uman, which is now designated as a closed military territory.

The ongoing situation has caused displeasure in Kyiv, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision not to call Ukrainian leaders on Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24 adding to the tension.

This developing story underscores the complexities of international relations and the challenges faced when balancing security concerns with religious freedom and traditions.