Jonathan Karlinsky, an Israeli-Ukrainian hassid who was arrested while crossing the Ukraine-Romania border after Rosh Hashanah and drafted into the Ukrainian army, has been located at a detention facility near Odessa, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU) announced on Thursday.
Karlinsky is currently awaiting transfer to a military base near the city of Kharkiv, where he is expected to serve as an army medic, several dozen kilometers away from the front lines where combat is actively taking place between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
After his location was ascertained, local rabbis, including those from Chabad, were able to assist in ensuring Karlinsky received kosher food, a prayer book, and the Arba Minim (Four Species) used on Sukkot.
Karlinsky also sent a video to his family in which he said he was in good condition and being treated fairly.
According to his family, "We tried to secure his release, but it wasn't feasible. His medical expertise, combined with the Ukrainian army's growing shortage of medical personnel, meant the army needed him immediately and could not let him go. Furthermore, he had previously served in the Ukrainian army - before becoming religious and immigrating to Israel - so, from their perspective, he belongs to them."
Ukraine-Russia war is existential, FJCU chairman says
Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of the FJCU, said that Ukraine was unable to provide exemptions to any potential soldiers due to the ongoing war with Russia.
"Ukraine is engaged in a very difficult war against an aggressive enemy that has been striking people, buildings, schools, hospitals, and more for nearly five years," he said. "People are being killed every day, resulting in a severe shortage of manpower. Every Ukrainian citizen is needed here, so obtaining exemptions is impossible."
Stambler drew a comparison to Israel's wars with Hamas and Hezbollah, calling it an existential war.
At the same time, Stambler added, "Ukraine is doing everything it can, and we are deeply grateful for its consideration of the needs of all religions and every individual soldier. Karlinsky stated that, for religious reasons, he did not wish to carry a weapon; the authorities accommodated this request and assigned him to a medical role. Perhaps later on, we will be able to integrate him into the Ukrainian military rabbinate."