Israeli Citizen Forcibly Conscripted Into Ukrainian Army Near Frontline
An Israeli citizen was forcibly conscripted into the Ukrainian army and deployed near the frontline after being trapped in Ukraine for over a year due to a citizenship dispute.
An Israeli citizen, 42-year-old Yevgeny Gurevich, has been forcibly conscripted into the Ukrainian army and deployed near the frontline in eastern Ukraine after being trapped in the country for over a year. Gurevich, who immigrated to Israel from Ukraine in 2011 and built his life there, traveled to Ukraine in the summer of 2025 to visit his aging mother.
The Legal Dispute Over Citizenship
According to his family, Gurevich believed he had successfully renounced his Ukrainian citizenship years ago. However, Ukrainian authorities maintained that he remained a citizen and accused him of illegally entering the country on an Israeli passport in August 2025. Despite legal efforts and appeals to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was barred from leaving.
After enduring over a year of travel restrictions, Gurevich attempted to cross the border into Poland illegally to return home. He was shot in the abdomen during the attempt, apprehended by local authorities, and shortly thereafter forcibly inducted into the armed forces.
Deployment and Family Appeal
I am worried and terrified for his life, I have to do something. He is an Israeli resident, an Israeli citizen — his whole life is here, his wife told reporters.
Relatives stated that Gurevich has been sent to the Kharkiv region near the frontline. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is providing consular assistance within the bounds of local legislation, though the family continues to plead for active intervention and information regarding his status.
