Israeli Breslov Hasid Arrested on Way from Uman - Will Be Drafted into 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 Odesa. 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 has reported 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 was discovered that he was subject to conscription into the Ukrainian army, and he was arrested on the spot by the military police. Contact with him has been completely lost since then. The Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine has reported that Karlinsky is being held in a detention facility for deserters in Odesa, pending his conscription as a military doctor. The Ukrainian army has 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 Odesa, and with the help of the city's chief rabbi, kosher food was delivered to Karlinsky and his rights were reviewed. 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.