In the Odesa region, a Hasidic Jew who had come to Uman for Rosh Hashanah was drafted

An Israeli citizen was detained while returning from Uman after celebrating Rosh Hashanah. At the border crossing with Romania, it was discovered that the man also holds Ukrainian citizenship. He was then taken to a military base near Odesa, where he is undergoing the conscription process for the Ukrainian army.

This was reported by the Israeli publication Walla.

The 49-year-old Israeli citizen, Yonatan Karlinsky Mashek, was detained at the Orlivka–Isaccea international border crossing, which operates as a ferry crossing over the Danube between the Odesa region and Romania. The man was returning from Uman after celebrating Rosh Hashanah. He was traveling by bus and had an Israeli passport stating that he was born in the Soviet Union.

According to his friend, border guards heard the Israeli man speaking Ukrainian and decided to check his documents. During the check, it turned out that, in addition to Israeli citizenship, he also holds Ukrainian citizenship. After that, Yonatan was taken off the bus.

His family was later informed that he had been transferred to Odesa to undergo the mobilization process. Currently, according to his wife, he is at a military base near the city.

Yonatan was born in Ukraine and moved to Israel about 14 years ago. According to Walla, he lives in Jerusalem, studies at a yeshiva, and has six children.

After his detention, he managed to send his wife an email and tried to call her twice. After that, all contact with him was lost.

His wife has appealed to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs for help. She is also trying to find out exactly where her husband is and what will happen to his military service.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet publicly commented on this situation.

Updated at 1:35 p.m.

The State Border Guard Service has denied reports of the alleged mobilization at the border of an Israeli citizen who was returning after celebrating Rosh Hashanah. 

As explained by the State Border Guard Service, during border clearance, it was determined that the man also holds Ukrainian citizenship. At the same time, the relevant records of persons subject to military service indicated that he was wanted by authorities.

Following this, border guards handed him over to representatives of the National Police for further investigation.

The agency emphasized that foreign citizens are not screened for military registration status in Ukraine when crossing the state border. Furthermore, the Border Guard Service does not conduct mobilization activities at border crossing points.

The State Border Guard Service stated that the information regarding the mobilization of a foreign citizen directly at the border crossing “does not correspond to the actual circumstances of the incident.”

Ірина Глухова