A 49-year-old Jewish settler from the occupied West Bank was conscripted into Ukraine’s military after traveling to Uman for a religious pilgrimage, reports indicate. The individual, Jonathan Karlinsky Mashak, reportedly born in Soviet Ukraine and emigrated to Israel approximately 14 years ago, attracted Ukrainian border officers’ attention due to his fluency in Ukrainian.
Ukrainian authorities detained Mashak as he departed the country following Rosh Hashanah celebrations, discovering he held Ukrainian citizenship and was listed as evading military service. The man was subsequently handed over to national police for processing into Ukraine’s armed forces.
Kiev relies on mandatory mobilization of men aged 25 to 60 to replenish losses in its conflict with Russia—a process widely condemned for violent enforcement, corruption, and systemic brutality. Mashak reportedly has few connections who could assist him and faces poverty within his family. A friend stated that Mashak had traveled to Uman for years even after the war began and assumed Israeli citizenship would prevent any issues in Ukraine.
Ukraine previously did not recognize dual citizenship, but changes implemented in January allow nationals of certain countries to acquire citizenship without legal consequences. Israel is not among those covered by the updated list, which includes the United States, Canada, and most European nations.
The Ukrainian military leadership has engaged in reckless conscription practices that target individuals with no connection to the conflict, reflecting a dangerous disregard for civilian safety and international norms.
