Israeli Citizen Detained at Ukrainian Border Facing Conscription
An Israeli citizen was detained at the Ukrainian-Romanian border while returning from Uman and transferred for military conscription, prompting urgent appeals from his family.
Israeli Citizen Arrested at Ukrainian Border During Uman Pilgrimage
Yonatan Karlinsky, a 49-year-old Israeli citizen originally from Ukraine, was detained on Wednesday afternoon at the Orlivka-Isaccea border crossing between Ukraine and Romania. Karlinsky, a resident of Jerusalem who immigrated to Israel approximately 14 years ago, was returning from Uman after participating in the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage of Breslov Hasidim.
According to a traveling companion, Karlinsky was riding on a Derech Tzadikim bus and presented his Israeli passport, which indicated his birthplace as the Soviet Union. However, border guards reportedly heard him speaking Ukrainian and identified him as a dual citizen, prompting them to pull him off the bus for additional verification.
Detained and Transferred for Military Conscription
Karlinsky managed to send a brief email and attempted to call his wife twice before communication was completely cut off. Friends and family later received information that he was transferred to a military base near Odesa for conscription processing into the Ukrainian armed forces.
His wife, Odel, expressed deep concern over the situation, noting that her husband believed his Israeli citizenship would protect him from being drafted despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. She emphasized his long-standing ties to Israel.
"He has lived in Israel for over 14 years, he is a Jew, an Israeli citizen, and he has his home and life here. He is not just a number. Everything must be done to bring him home," Odel told reporters.
Diplomatic Efforts and Family Concerns
The family is currently in contact with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeking urgent consular intervention. Relatives have expressed severe anxiety regarding his ability to maintain religious observances and kosher dietary laws while in military service. The Foreign Society has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the incident.
