Priti ‘let us down on visas’
A UKRAINIAN MP says Home Secretary Priti Patel personally promised her visas for refugees in three days – but she is still waiting three weeks later.
Lesia Vasylenko, 35, who took up arms to fight the Russians, is trying to get 30 families who fled to Poland or are still stranded in western Ukraine into Britain, where homes are waiting for them.
But in an exclusive interview with the Sunday People, she said: “Only one family has received visas so far. I feel let down by the lack of coordination.
“If you give such a timeframe then you must have the resources to deliver. But it’s not working.
“The generosity of the British people is huge. Host families have been brilliant and text every day.
“But the joke in Ukraine is that by the time the UK has done all the checks, the war will be over.”
Ms Vasylenko, an MP for Ukraine’s opposition Holos party, visited Britain last month with three other Ukrainian MPS.
Processing
They met Ms Patel, PM Boris Johnson, Housing Secretary Michael Gove and other ministers.
Only 1,200 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Britain under the Homes for Ukraine scheme – but another 10,800 have made it here to join family.
The Home Office says of 79,800 visas applied for, 40,900 have been granted. They said: “We have launched one of the fastest and biggest visa schemes in UK history.
“We continue to speed up visa processing across both schemes, including boosting caseworkers and simplifying the forms.”
Sunday People readers have now raised £70,000 to help get Ukrainian orphans to safety.
To donate to our appeal, backed by Labour leader Keir Starmer, go tohopeandhomes.org or text
HOPE 5, HOPE 10, HOPE 15 or HOPE 20 to 70300 to donate £5, £10, £15 or £20.
Child Helpline International can be reached on 116 111.