Russian propaganda is spreading disinformation about pilgrims arriving in Uman to celebrate the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Russian media are trying to create tension between local residents and the pilgrims.
This is reported by the Centre for Countering Disinformation.
Media controlled by the Russian Federation are widely circulating manipulative posts about the supposed “privileged position” of Hasidim in Ukraine compared with the local population.
To reinforce this narrative, Russian propaganda is also using fake photographs generated with the help of artificial intelligence.
The Centre notes that such material matches typical templates used in Russian psychological operations.
The aim of the information campaign is to destabilise the internal situation in Ukraine, artificially stoke antisemitic sentiment, and provoke conflicts between local residents and pilgrims.
- In Uman, Rabbi Nachman, the founder of Breslov Hasidism, is buried. Believers travel to his grave every year to celebrate the Jewish New Year in September, which this year falls on 11–13 September.
- In previous years, many Hasidic pilgrims did not refuse to travel to Ukraine even amid the full-scale war.
- In the Cherkasy region, preparations to receive Hasidim began back in July. Around 40,000 people are expected to arrive.
- Israeli police officers have arrived in Uman to work jointly with Ukrainian law enforcement to ensure public order and safety during the Rosh Hashanah celebrations.