Ukraine urges Jewish pilgrims stuck at border to turn back

 Ukraine on Thursday strongly warned thousands of Hasidic Jewish pilgrims who have been stuck on its border for days that it won't allow m into country due to coronavirus restrictions.

Ukrainian authorities said about 2,000 people have gared at border with Belarus, in hope of traveling to Ukrainian city of Uman to visit grave of an important Hasidic rabbi who died in 1810, Nachman of Breslov.

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews visit city each September for Rosh Hashana, Jewish new year. It’s celebrated Sept. 18-20 this year, and some pilgrims h mand to get to Uman before Ukraine closed its borders in late August amid a surge in COVID-19 infections. Thousands of ors traveled via Belarus, which hasn’t barred foreign visitors from entering.

On Thursday, Ukraine's Interior Ministry official Mykhailo Apostol reaffirmed that pilgrims will t be allowed to cross border.

“Ukraine has shut its borders to foreigners, and exclusions will be me for Hasidic pilgrims," Apostol told reporters. “It's getting colder and we suggest that y come back to Belarus, buy tickets and go home.”

Also, Israeli Higher Education Minister Zeev Elkin tweeted Thursday that efforts to help pilgrims enter Ukraine have failed, and called on m to return to Israel.

As thousands of pilgrims spent days in -man's land between Belarus and Ukraine, some sleeping in makeshift tents and ors on ground, Ukraine and Belarus bickered over standoff.

On Wednesday, Ukraine’s presidential office accused Belarusian authorities of issuing misleing signals to pilgrims that y would eventually be allowed to cross border. Belarusian officials shot back accusing Ukraine of “inhumane” treatment of pilgrims, and offered to provide buses to drive pilgrims to Uman and back to Belarus.

Ukraine’s presidential office alleged Wednesday that Belarusian authorities’ actions could be rooted in latest tensions between two neighbors following Belarus’ controversial presidential election.

Ukraine has joined United States and European Union in criticizing Aug. 9 vote, in which President Alexander Lukashenko extended his 26-year authoritarian rule, as neir free r fair and urged Belarusian authorities to end ir crackdown on protesters.