Breslov Union Launches Digital Platform to Ease Border Delays for Pilgrims to Uman

Since the outbreak of war, Ukraine's closed airspace has complicated travel for tens of thousands of Breslov Hasidim journeying to Uman, forcing them to take indirect flights to neighboring countries followed by exhausting land travel. This often causes severe bottlenecks and long waits at border crossings. To address these challenges, the Breslov Union has introduced "On the Way to Uman" (Umanmap.eu), a free, interactive digital map accessible via any mobile or desktop browser without app installation. The platform provides real-time updates on border crossing wait times and congestion levels, enabling travelers to choose alternative routes and avoid crowding.

The system aggregates official data and user reports from the field to monitor border conditions. Beyond border status, it offers comprehensive travel support including route planning from the moment of arrival in Europe, locations of hospitals, emergency stations, ATMs, synagogues, ritual baths, kosher restaurants, and graves of righteous figures along the route. It also generates personalized daily halachic time tables and study schedules for each stop.

Rabbi Natan Ben-Nun, chairman of the Breslov Union in Uman, emphasized the community's responsibility to ease travel hardships and reduce waiting times at borders. The organization stresses that the platform's success depends on mutual responsibility and urges travelers to update conditions in real time to assist others on the journey.