You're reading: Israeli pilgrims arrive in Ukraine to pay tribute to their spiritual leader

More than 16,000 Hasidic Jews had arrived in Uman (Cherkasy region) to visit the grave of their spiritual leader Reb Nachman of Bratslav as of September 14, according to the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

Border guards reported that most of the pilgrims arrived at the airports in Boryspil, Odesa, and Vinnytsia.

As reported the Terminal D of the Boryspil International Airport (Kyiv) started receiving Israeli pilgrims on September 13.

It is expected that the airport would service around 40,000
passengers during the pilgrimage – 20,000 during arrival and 20,000
during their departure. UIA, AeroSvit, El AL, and Arkia Israel airlines
will carry out the transportation of pilgrims.

In 2011, the airport serviced 22,560 pilgrims – 11,105 passengers during arrival, and 11,455 during departure.

Every fall, pilgrims go to Uman to visit the grave of Reb Nahman.
Their number is increasing now that the visa regime has been lifted
between Ukraine and Israel.

Terminal D is the largest in Ukraine and can service up to 15 million passengers per year. Its area is 107,000 square meters.

The construction of the terminal lasted from November 2008 until May 2012.

Boryspil International Airport has two runways: one 4,000 meters long
and 60 meters wide, and another 3,500 meters long and 63 meters wide.