BBC World Service: From Ukraine to Israel - documentary

Tim presents a BBC World Service radio documentary - From Ukraine to Israel: An exodus for our times

Thousands of Ukrainians are fleeing to Israel – joining a million-plus former Soviets who have already moved to this Middle Eastern nation, with profound consequences for both Israel and the region. Tim Samuels investigates this very modern ‘exodus’ of Jews, once again running from Eastern Europe, a journey so many of their ancestors made before.

He meets Ukrainian refugees in a Tel Aviv immigration hotel trying to start a new life for themselves after fleeing from the horrors of the conflict, but also finding themselves sharing the same facilities as Russians who have left their country too for Israel. The land they are moving to is already home to more than a million citizens from the former USSR– a wave that began in earnest in the 1990s, after decades of being denied the right to leave for Israel.

Samuels meets ‘refusenik’-turned-Israeli politician, Natan Sharansky, to talk about the impact this sudden wave of ex-Soviets had on their new homeland and Middle Eastern politics. And what will be in store for these latest migrants – in a country where ‘Russians’ can still be seen and treated as a distinct tribe. Not far from the hotel housing new arrivals lies the vast, unfinished residency of Roman Abramovich – one of a number of oligarchs with Israeli citizenship. It is unclear if the home will be ever be completed by Abramovich, if action will be taken against the oligarchs, or indeed whether Israel will carry on trying to mediate in the conflict.

It all speaks to the complex and unusual relationship between Ukraine, Russia and this Middle Eastern nation with so many citizens from the former Soviet Union.

Ukraine op-ed for Evening Standard

Why there’s a bit of all of us that wants to go and fight in Ukraine - opinion piece for the Evening Standard

I have to do my part, whatever that may be,” a 22-year-old lad from Hampshire declared, en route to Ukraine. Another Brit bound for Kyiv said, “it’s very black and white - someone has to stand up”.

Doing your part, standing up, explicitly being unsure – as both starkly are – about whether you’ll ever be coming back: it feels breathtakingly brave and insane in equal measure. The height of foolhardy fatalism.

And yet, there’s a part of me that not only admires what these guys are doing – but also wants to head out there with them. To join the fight.

This doesn’t come from suppressed militaristic fantasies. I’ve made enough documentaries about veterans to see the lingering horrors of war. When at Newsnight years ago, I politely declined being sent to Iraq – knowing I’d get PTSD before I even made it out of arrivals at Saddam International. I’m more yoga than UFC…. (continues)