Russians Who Moved to Israel to Escape Ukraine Battle Are within the Center of One other One

Days after Russia invaded Ukraine final yr, Matvey Kukuy, a know-how entrepreneur, fled the nation for Israel, extra out of disgrace than worry. However when Hamas attacked his new dwelling two weeks in the past, he did the other: Whereas at a convention in Portugal, he booked tickets to return to Israel in one among its best moments of disaster.

“I felt I used to be on the fitting facet of historical past this time,” Mr. Kukuy, 30, stated in a telephone interview from Tel Aviv.

Mr. Kukuy, who’s from Moscow, was one among 1000’s of Russians with Jewish heritage, together with many distinguished figures, who left for Israel after the invasion of Ukraine. Some stood in strains in entrance of Israeli diplomatic missions in Moscow, some sought to show their Jewish roots inside Israel. To resettle in Israel, Russians want to point out that one grownup member of the family has Jewish heritage.

Within the early weeks of 2022, when a Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared imminent, a gradual stream of individuals left Russia. That was a flood of such proportions after the battle began that Russian prosecutors quickly sought to impose an operational ban on a serious Jewish nonprofit company that helps individuals to migrate to Israel. A Russian court docket has but to rule on the matter.

The exodus of Russian households and Israel’s determination to not endorse the Kremlin’s rationale for the battle — the false assertion that Ukraine is run by Nazis — strained the connection between the 2 nations.

Nevertheless it additionally highlighted the deep divisions inside Russian society over President Vladimir V. Putin’s determination to assault Ukraine. 1000’s against the battle now not stay in Russia. Others — with their voices amplified by the nation’s state-run media — labeled the exiles as treacherous traitors who ought to by no means return to Russia.

The battle between Israel and Hamas, the armed group that controls Gaza, uncovered the truth that these divisions are deep and enduring.

Lev Sotnikov left Russia shortly after Mr. Putin introduced a call-up of reservists to affix the preventing in September 2022. He stated that whereas all wars carry some similarities, the one between Israel and Hamas is totally different from the one in Ukraine as a result of, not like Russia, Israel is “preventing for its survival as a state.”

This battle was additionally a crash course for him on life within the nation, stated Mr. Sotnikov, 37. This summer time, after he settled together with his household within the city of Nahariya, six miles from the border with Lebanon, he felt “completely secure,” he stated.

Because the assault by Hamas, tensions have flared within the north close to Lebanon, with some analysts and officers fearing an escalation of hostilities within the space.

“Now I perceive that even when every thing will finish,” Mr. Sotnikov stated, referring to the present battle between Israel and Hamas, “nothing will really finish.”

After Hamas’s assault, many Russian households determined to go away Israel, not less than for the preliminary interval of open hostilities. Russian aviation authorities stated on Friday that round 7,000 individuals had flown from Israel to Russia after the assault by Hamas and that round 3,000 had flown again. Russian group chats in among the fundamental facilities of postwar immigration, equivalent to Tbilisi, Georgia, or Yerevan, Armenia, have been full of requests for momentary residences and different assist.

Some Russian exiles in Israel stated they have been shocked that, regardless of deep political divisions, there was a consensus amongst Israelis about the necessity to assist one another and their military.

Yuri Podkopayev, a math trainer who left Russia final November, stated that not like in Russia, in Israel individuals have been free to criticize the federal government however that they have been additionally all united round one trigger — the safety of their nation.

“Nobody questioned Russia’s proper for existence,” stated Mr. Podkopayev, 40. “That’s why there wasn’t any type of huge assist of the battle in Ukraine.”

Nevertheless, even exiles in opposition to the Kremlin’s battle nonetheless see Russia as their motherland, they stated. Whereas Mr. Podkopayev has settled in Israel for good and is studying Hebrew so he can resume instructing math, he stated that he considers himself to be a patriot of each Russia and Israel.

“I’ve two nations, and I fear about each of them,” Mr. Podkopayev stated. “Considered one of them is simply significantly sick now.”