Israeli-Ukrainian Man Drafted into Ukrainian Army After Pilgrimage

Yonatan Karlinsky, a 49-year-old Breslov Hasid from Beitar Illit, Israel, was detained by the Ukrainian military at the Ukraine-Romania border ten days ago while returning from a pilgrimage to Uman, Ukraine. It was discovered that Karlinsky, who holds Ukrainian citizenship and was born in Ukraine, is subject to conscription into the Ukrainian army. He has been assigned as a doctor to a military unit in the Kharkiv region, in the country's northeast.

The Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine (FJCU) confirmed that Karlinsky is currently in a detention facility in Odessa and is being provided with kosher food and religious items. Initial reports suggested Karlinsky might be exempt from service as a father of six, but Ukrainian military checks revealed he has only one daughter, making him eligible for conscription under Ukrainian law, which exempts fathers of three or more children.

According to the FJCU, attempts to secure Karlinsky's release were unsuccessful due to his medical expertise and the Ukrainian army's significant need for medical personnel. The army also noted that Karlinsky previously served in the Ukrainian military before returning to religious observance and immigrating to Israel, thus considering him obligated to serve.

Through the FJCU's religious services coordinator for the military, Yaakov Siniakov, Karlinsky has received kosher meals, prayer books, and the "Four Species" for the Sukkot holiday. Siniakov has also distributed over 1,000 holiday kits to Jewish soldiers in various bases and camps on the front lines in recent months.