Hasidic Jews started the Jewish New Year celebrations in the city of Uman on Friday.

Traditionally, the event attracts thousands of Hasidic pilgrims from all over the world, but this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic the number celebrating Rosh Hashanah is much lower.

Hundreds of Hasidic pilgrims from neighbouring Belarus were unable to travel to the city as Ukraine banned the entry of foreign nationals except for residence permit holders due to the pandemic until September 28.

In #Uman, the pilgrims are required to wear a face mask and go through temperature screening before entering the holy sites.

The city is a major pilgrimage site for #Hasidic Judaism since it hosts the burial site of the Nachman of #Breslov, a major figure in the Hasidic revivalist movement.