FAMILIES MOVED FROM HOTEL TO HOTEL AS THEY WAIT TO BE PUT IN PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION Forced out of Ukraine Abandoned in Scotland
Refugees reveal their fears about being left homeless after fleeing Russian conflict
Ukrainian refugees who were brought to Scotland as part of a scheme launched by Nicola Sturgeon are now fearing being left in the streets with nowhere to go.
About 500 are yet to be placed in permanent accommodation and are waiting in hotels which are now asking them to leave.
The Sunday Mail spoke to a group of eight refugees who f led the Russian war on Ukraine to arrive in Glasgow under the Scottish Government’s so- called “super sponsor” scheme.
They’ve just been moved out of a temporary hotel in Glasgow and into another, where they’ve no idea how long they’ll be allowed to remain.
Last week the Scottish Government announced it had to pause the sponsor scheme for three months because of a lack of suitable accommodation.
The First Minister told refugees that “Scotland wants to welcome you” when she launched the scheme in March, which saw displaced Ukrainians applying for a UK visa able to select the Scottish Government as a sponsor.
But a disused cruise ship has now been chartered in Leith, near Edinburgh, to house some of the displaced refugees.
The group of eight, who have been living in hotel rooms since they arrived, say the sudden move has left them uncertain about their future.
They were moved from their first hotel at short notice after arrivingriving earlier this month and say they have been given littlee information about what will happen next.
Tetyana Podoltsev and her 15-year- old son Mykyta were among the group that were lef t fearing they would end up on the streets.
Mykyta said: “Upon arrival,val, we and six other people checkedecked into the Premier Inn hotel inn Glasgow city centre. We were droppedd offff andd told, ‘ You’ll stay here for a while,’ but that was it.
“During our stay at the hotel, we were never contacted by a representative of the country regarding our further actions.
“Then last Wednesday morning at 9am we were told to leave the hotel because our rooms are already rented by other people.
“We panicked – we had nowhere else to go. We tried calling, emailing and texting everyone at the Government we could but they didn’t answer. For many of us, there is also a language bar r ier so that doesn’t help.
“So from midday that day we were left sitting with our bags at the hotel reception until the staf f told us to leave the building. We were scared we were going to be on the streets.
“We have now been moved to the Radisson
Blu Hotel in Glasgow and
The hotel us to staff told were leave. We were scared we be left going to on the streets
told wew will be here for a few days but after tthat we have no idea.
“ThThere was no communication, plan or anyoneany to contact for help. We have since contacted Glasgow City Council and tthey hope to sort something but what t it will be we are not sure.” Mykyta M and Tetyana, 56, fled their homethhome own of K he r son , in sosouthern Ukraine, which has been occupied since the beginning of the Russian inv invasion.
HisH dad Ihor, 57, and brother Dmitry,Dm33, were forced to stay behind.beh Mykyta said: “We didn’tdidn’ want to leave our family
We’ve lost our homes, friends. jobs and like It just feels na we are i hopeless situation
or our home but, due to the Russian war, life was unbearable. There was no food, no jobs.
“We had to leave my dad and brother behind because when you get to the Ukrainian border they check your passport and if you are aged 16 to 60 you have to stay and fight.
“My mum and I left in a van covered in a thin sheet of plastic and drove for 14 hours along a road broken to rubble by fighting.
“From there we travelled to Poland and then to Scotland. It’s been horrendous and, while we are grateful to be here, we didn’t expect so much uncertainty.
“We have all experienced the horrors of war and were looking forward to finding refuge and protection in Scotland. There was no future and it wasn’t safe, which is why we took refuge in Scotland.
“We have already lost our homes, jobs and friends in Ukraine. We are traumatised and now helpless in a foreign country with limited English. It just feels like we are in a hopeless situation.”
Liudmyla Skyba, 54, was also among the group who were moved from the Premier Inn to the Radisson Blu.
Liudmyla left her 30-year-old son behind in Kyiv to seek refuge in Scotland.
She said: “We called everyone we could but everyone just said they couldn’t assist us. There is no clear plan. We just don’t know.”
Whi le the Scottish Government’s chartered cruise ship arrived at Leith from Estonia on Monday, the refugees have no idea if that’s where they’ll end up.
Natalie Yareshko, 29, who fled Vasilkyv in the Kyiv region and has been put up in the Radisson Blu, doesn’t think accommodation on a ship will be a viable long-term option.
Natalie, who left her husband behind to fight in the war, said: “We haven’t been told anything about a ship but I don’t think putting lots of people to live on a cruise ship will be a suitable option.
“We don’t want to be cut off from normal life – we want to begin living now.
“I don’t want to spend months on a ship. I hope to find a job and a proper flat or house. “I’ve been to the job centre in Glasgow already and there are lots of jobs here. “There are opportunities. There was nothing left for us there, which is why we came, and I want to build a life here. “Maybe when the war is over I’ll be reunited with my husband but until then he is there and I need to create a life to survive.”
Elvin Abdullaev, 21, from Lughank in eastern Ukraine, hopes to study in Scotland and find a career.
He said: “We turned up and were put up in the Premier Inn and then moved to the Radisson Blu.
“It’s very nice and we’re grateful but long-term we want to build roots.
“Glasgow is a beautiful city with lots of old architecture but we are aware we could be sent anywhere.
“I went to university in Kyiv and I want to continue my studies here. I am desperate to find a job and career and make a life for myself.
“Because of the war, there were no jobs. I couldn’t earn much money to live and the price of everything is so expensive now.
“I’d l ike to be a director and I’d like to find a job as a photographer’s assistant.
“I’m hoping Scotland can offer me a future.”
The Premi e r Inn and Radisson hotel groups were asked to comment but did not respond.
We called everyone we could but they said they couldn’t assist us. There is no clear plan