As Russian forces prepared for an offensive, artillery fire was rained down on eastern Ukraine and thousands were ordered to flee.
In the troubled city of Luhansk, sirens from the air rang out as Serhiy Gaidai, the governor, issued an order for desperate families to leave their homes.
Ms. Gaidai stated that about 30% of the 400,000 people in the region had not left the city or village, despite being told to.
‘They [Russia]We are assembling forces to launch an offensive, and we can see that the number of bombings has increased,” he stated.
TRUMATISED: The escape of a woman from the Russian invasion in Ukraine
According to UK intelligence, Russian operations are being directed at the southern-eastern regions of Russia, with a focus on Donbas, Mariupol, and Mykolaiv.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence (UK Ministry of Defence), these missile attacks were supported by Russian naval forces continuing cruise missile launch into Ukraine.
The scramble to leave Ukraine –where 10 million people have been displaced since Putin’s invasion – comes as British families ready to open their homes to Ukrainians refugees told of their frustration at visa requirements slowing down their guests’ arrival in the UK.
Louise Summers, 53, and her family from Tandridge, Surrey, have been paired under a refugee sanctuary scheme with a mother and two children from Kyiv who are currently in Poland waiting for their visas to be approved. According to her, there seems to be an apparent lack of urgency.
Jane Oakley (Tom and Jane) and their four East London children are still looking for a refugee.
Oakley commented that it seemed like the UK needed to do more in comparison to countries like Germany and Poland.
Only 1,200 refugee have entered the UK through the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship program, which is tenth of all visas granted. Priti Patel, Home Secretary has apologized for the delays
Enver Solomon is the CEO of Refugee Council. He stated that while Europe (including Ireland) has taken significant numbers of Ukrainian refugees, the UK’s response has been slow.
Only 1,200 refugee have entered the UK through the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship program, which is a mere tenth percent of visas issued.
Priti Patel, Home Secretary has apologized for the delays.
The visa requirement has been removed from EU countries.
Some 20.525 Ukrainians arrived in Ireland, while the German government said last week that 300,000.
Poland received 2.5 million asylum seekers in six weeks.