Ukrainians stand with Israel amid war with Hamas, despite grievances

Ukrainians in Kyiv have placed flowers outside the Israeli embassy to pay tribute to the Israelis killed in Hamas's surprise attack [Mansur Mirovalev/Al Jazeera]

Kyiv, Ukraine – To Valentina Boyko, what’s happening in Ukraine and Israel is strikingly similar.

“We were attacked. They were attacked. Both attacks were stealthy, backstabbing,” the Kyiv resident told Al Jazeera, referring to Russia’s invasion of her homeland and the Hamas-Israeli war that began on Saturday.