Since Rosh Hashanah, severe delays have been reported at all border crossings out of Ukraine, leaving thousands of Yidden stuck for long hours on buses, at airports, and at border stations across Eastern Europe. The situation has already caused widespread missed flights, canceled tickets, and great hardship for many returning from Uman.

Frustrated travelers shared photos and firsthand accounts with B’Chadrei Chareidim, describing the exhaustion and confusion they endured. Some voiced sharp criticism of chareidi representatives in the Knesset, claiming: “They don’t care because we are Breslovers.”

The bottlenecks have led to the cancellation of at least four flights scheduled to depart from Tulcea and Iasi in Romania. Airline officials explained that crews had exceeded their maximum permitted work hours, known as “crew burnout regulations,” which legally bar them from flying once they cross a certain threshold.

Major travel agencies serving the Uman crowds, including Netivim Tours and Derech Tzaddikim, said they made every effort to arrange additional flights, but were unsuccessful.

In a statement, the companies announced: “Since this afternoon, we have been working tirelessly to arrange lodging and Shabbos meals for our clients who are unable to return before Shabbos. Buses are being dispatched to pick up passengers from Tulcea Airport, from the waiting halls, from the Orlivka border, and from Iasi, and bring them to designated Shabbos accommodations where we will, b’ezras Hashem, provide full seudos Shabbos.”

They added that passengers who arranged their own accommodations should continue monitoring agency updates for details about the new flights.

Photos show makeshift tents being set up in Romania to house travelers caught mid-journey. The agencies confirmed that return flights to Eretz Yisroel will begin Motzaei Shabbos and continue Sunday morning, departing from several airports in parallel.

Earlier reports described the entire journey back from Uman as “days of endless upheaval,” with groups of Yidden scattered across Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Moldova — each trying to find a path back to Eretz Yisroel. Out of concern for becoming stranded on the road as Shabbos approached, many decided to halt their travels and wait until after Shabbos to resume their journey.

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