'We're not allowed to bring our baby from Ukraine': Refugees turned away after sudden change in UK rules

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A Ukrainian refugee couple who fled to the UK were refused permission to allow their two-year-old daughter to join them after the government suddenly changed its sponsorship rules, The Independent can reveal.

Oleksandra and Yaroslav were offered refuge from the war in Russia under the Homes for Ukraine program in April 2022, leaving newborn Anna with her grandparents in Kiev until they are settled in the UK with work and their own home.

But after finally overcoming the obstacles linked to finding accommodation and setting up their own marketing business in the UK, the couple's offer in April for their daughter, now a baby girl, to join them was refused by the Ministry of Health. Interior, after rules for programs allowing Ukrainians to do so were tightened overnight in February.

“Now it seems like it’s impossible to bring in Anna,” said Oleksandra at The Independent. “I was almost there – and I didn’t expect [the legislation] to change. I am very sad and frustrated, I don't know what to do and how to react. If I can't bring Anna, we'll have to leave everything and go somewhere else.

“I spent a lot of time growing my business, finding suitable accommodation, and when we arrived here we had nothing: our business in Ukraine was closed and we had no no money. So it's not a good situation. »

Although the Home Office insists the new rules do not prevent children from rejoining their parents, charities warn the changes have created "unintended consequences" and could leave hundreds – if not thousands – of Ukrainians separated from their loved ones.

The “deeply shocking” failure “betrays our commitment to the Ukrainians”, warned his Labor counterpart Alf Dubs , himself arrived in the United Kingdom for six years. old man fleeing the Nazis.

"We pay lip service to how much we want to help Ukraine and Ukrainians, but in practice we don't," Lord Dubs told The Independent. "The most fundamental thing is that parents should be allowed to have their children with them - absolutely fundamental - and I think the government should be ashamed of itself."

The Refugee Council also urged the government to change its new policy (iStock/Getty)

Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael said: “I'm having a hard time deciding what is more offensive in this matter – the cruelty or the implication...