Israeli citizen Jonathan Karlinsky was detained by Ukrainian border guards while attempting to leave Ukraine after celebrating Rosh Hashanah because he also holds Ukrainian citizenship and was listed as wanted in military records, authorities said.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine confirmed that the 49-year-old Jerusalem resident was stopped at a border crossing into Romania and handed over to representatives of the National Police of Ukraine.
Border officials denied initial reports published by Ukrainian and Israeli media outlets which claimed that Karlinsky had been forcibly mobilized into the armed forces at the border checkpoint.
In an official statement, the border service explained that foreign nationals are not subject to military registration checks when crossing the state border, nor does the agency execute mobilization procedures at border control points.
Officials stated that standard passport clearance procedures revealed Karlinsky possessed Ukrainian citizenship alongside his Israeli passport. A check of state military registration databases indicated that he was actively listed as wanted by Ukrainian authorities, though border guards did not specify the legal grounds for the warrant.
Media reports and Hasidic pilgrimage
According to earlier reports by Ukrainian and Israeli news outlets, Karlinsky was detained while attempting to return to Israel following the annual Jewish New Year celebrations in the central Ukrainian city of Uman. Karlinsky was born in Ukraine, emigrated to Israel 14 years ago, and currently lives in Jerusalem.
Police estimates indicated that approximately 50,000 Hasidic pilgrims traveled to Uman in September 2026 for Rosh Hashanah. The city is internationally prominent as the burial place of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the 18th-century founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement.
Each autumn, thousands of Breslov Hasidim and other Jewish worshippers make the annual pilgrimage to Uman to pray at Rabbi Nachman's tomb during Rosh Hashanah, believing that spending the holiday near his grave brings spiritual blessings. The gathering represents one of the largest annual religious pilgrimages in Eastern Europe.
Because civilian airspace over Ukraine remains closed following the Russian invasion, pilgrims traveling between Israel and Ukraine must use land transport across borders with neighboring countries, including Romania, Moldova, and Poland.
Dual citizenship and military obligations
Under Ukrainian legislation, dual citizenship is not officially recognized regarding legal and military obligations. Individuals who hold Ukrainian nationality alongside a foreign passport are treated strictly as Ukrainian citizens while inside the country, making them subject to domestic laws and military registration requirements enforced under martial law.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for managing state border security and verifying travel documents. When border personnel identify individuals flagged in state databases, agency protocols require transferring custody to civil law enforcement.
The National Police of Ukraine serves as the primary civil law enforcement authority responsible for handling criminal warrants and administrative offenses. Following the handover at the border, police officials take responsibility for determining the next legal steps regarding Karlinsky's wanted status.
