Israeli citizen taken captive by pro-Russian militias in Luhansk

An Israeli citizen who has been living in Ukraine for many years has been taken captive by pro-Russian forces in the Moscow-controlled Luhansk region, according to a social media video of him, apparently filmed in captivity.

Vladimir Kozlovsky is seen displaying his Israeli ID card and identifying himself as a signal operator in the Ukrainian intelligence forces.

#Russia kidnaps Israeli-Ukrainian prisoner of War, Vladimir Kozlovsky who was drafted into the Ukrainian army.

Praying for his release. ???? pic.twitter.com/ezpT7QlG9v

— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) June 30, 2022

In a clip apparently forced out of him by his captors, Kozlovsky says he tried to exit Ukraine after the Russian invasion through the border with Slovakia, after Israeli Consulate officials handed him a document allowing him to leave, but that border officials stopped him and recruited him to the military, while letting his wife and child leave.

After being stationed in Luhansk, Kozlovsky says his force was bombarded with artillery and he was then taken captive after his commanders fled.

“We had weapons but we didn’t know how to use them,” he says. “They didn’t train us and sent us to the battlefield without telling us we were going to fight. They threw us like cannon fodder.”

The Foreign Ministry tells the Ynet news site that they are aware of the situation and are dealing with it.