Israeli Breslov Hasid arrested on his way from Uman - and will be drafted into the Ukrainian army

Yonatan Karlinsky, a 49-year-old Israeli Breslov Hasid from Beitar Illit, was arrested at the Ukraine-Romania border ten days ago and is being held in a detention facility in Odessa. The Ukrainian army intends to conscript him as a military doctor due to his Ukrainian citizenship and medical knowledge. The Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine is updating on the arrest, and contact with him has been lost.

Yonatan Karlinsky, a 49-year-old Israeli Breslov Hasid from Beitar Illit, was arrested ten days ago at the Ukraine-Romania border by the Ukrainian army. Karlinsky, a native of Ukraine who holds Israeli citizenship, was traveling to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. During a document check at the border, it became clear that he was subject to conscription into the Ukrainian army, and he was arrested on the spot by the military police. Since then, all contact with him has been completely lost. The Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine has updated that Karlinsky is being held in a detention facility for deserters in Odessa, pending his conscription as a military doctor. The Ukrainian army checked and determined that claims he is a father of six children and therefore exempt from service are incorrect, as Karlinsky has only one daughter. In cooperation with Rabbi Shneur Vigler, Chabad emissaries to Odessa, and with the help of the city's chief rabbi, kosher food was delivered to Karlinsky and his rights were examined. According to a Jewish source in the area, an attempt was made to release him from his military obligation, but due to his medical knowledge and the army's growing shortage of medical personnel, he could not be released. The source noted that Karlinsky served in the Ukrainian army before becoming religious and immigrating to Israel, so from the army's perspective, he belongs to them.