Ukrainian officials have made no move to block the annual Hasidic pilgrimage to Uman, despite claims circulating on social media and pro-Russian outlets. The allegation — attributed to unnamed sources — was swiftly dismissed by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, and the foundations that coordinate the yearly gathering. Organizers confirmed that preparations for Rosh Hashanah 2025 remain on track.
Unverified reports have surfaced online alleging that Ukraine plans to block Hasidic pilgrims from traveling to Uman for this year’s Rosh Hashanah celebrations, supposedly due to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s «resentment.» Anonymous Telegram channels and fringe outlets claimed Kyiv was unwilling to guarantee the safety of tens of thousands of pilgrims during wartime and was dissatisfied with Israel’s level of support. The rumors further suggested that Ukrainian authorities had demanded financial assistance from Israel and even the deployment of Israeli police to help manage order in Uman.
The rumors gained traction on August 31 after the Times of Israel published a piece citing Jewish media reports that Ukraine intended to block the Hasidic pilgrimage to Uman on security grounds. According to StopFake, the narrative first appeared a day earlier, when Israeli journalist Barak Ravid posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Kyiv had made such a decision, citing an unnamed «Ukrainian official.»
The Israeli outlet i24, also citing the same anonymous source, amplified the claim by alleging that Kyiv’s supposed decision was tied to frustration over Israel’s level of support, including demands for financial aid and a greater Israeli police presence in Uman during the holiday.
That reporting was false. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said an internal review confirmed that Ukraine has made no changes to its policy on the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage.
The United Jewish Community of Ukraine, citing the Charitable Foundation «Historical and Cultural Center of the City of Uman» — which oversees the annual pilgrimage — also rejected the claims. The group stressed that Israel has in fact provided tangible support to Ukraine, including the delivery of Patriot missile batteries.
Anastasia Baryshnikova, PR director of the International Charitable Foundation named after Rabbi Nachman, told Suspilne that reports of canceling the 2025 celebration in Uman were unfounded:
«This information is not true. We had an informal meeting with the State Emergency Service, police, and the SBU. Preparations for Rosh Hashanah 2025 are already underway, and another meeting is scheduled. There is no cancellation. In the pilgrimage area, nobody has heard anything about it. It looks like planted news. Officially, we deny the cancellation. We also contacted the outlets that spread this claim — they refused to comment, and they were the only ones who published it,» Baryshnikova said.
Such disinformation is aimed at driving a wedge between Ukraine and Israel, sowing mistrust among religious communities, and undermining the credibility of Ukrainian authorities. By weaponizing religious themes, Russian propaganda seeks to play on the emotions of believers and international audiences. StopFake has previously debunked similar fabrications — including claims that Hasidic pilgrims in Uman allegedly discarded a Ukrainian flag.
