Drafted into the army, but not into the IDF: the entanglement of a Breslov Hasid who tried to return from Uman

A 49-year-old Breslov Hasid from Beitar Illit, a native of Ukraine, was arrested at the Romanian border on his way back from Uman after it was discovered that he was subject to mandatory conscription into the Ukrainian army. He was immediately drafted and contact has since been lost. Three other Hasidim were arrested in Moldova and Cyprus under different circumstances.

A 49-year-old Breslov Hasid from Beitar Illit, a native of Ukraine with Israeli citizenship, was arrested at the Romanian border on his way back to Israel after participating in the Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage in Uman. During a document check at the border, it was discovered that he was subject to mandatory conscription into the Ukrainian army. He was immediately taken for military service and all contact with him has since been completely lost. A source familiar with the details described how he spoke Ukrainian with the soldiers, and after a check, he was detained. His family is deeply worried and has no communication with him. Activists in the Breslov community have turned to rabbis and activists in Ukraine without success. The Foreign Ministry informed the family that they do not know where he is and are working to locate him. Meanwhile, three other Breslov Hasidim were arrested: one in Cyprus for sending a bong a year ago, another in Moldova after running over a local civilian, and a third in Chisinau with forged passports.