Ukraine: UK Government urged to go further to support refugees fleeing Russian invasion

Latest developments:

Conservative MPs have written to the Prime Minister urging him to go further in supporting refugees fleeing the conflict
Dozens of civilians have been killed and hundreds injured in heavy Russian shelling of Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv, officials say
The website of Russia’s security agency, the FSB, main successor to the Soviet Union’s KGB, has become unavailable
Other Russian Government websites have also faced disruption
Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s nuclear deterrent on high alert after “absolutely unacceptable” remarks by foreign secretary Liz Truss, the Kremlin has claimed
More than 500,000 refugees have now fled from Ukraine into neighbouring countries, according to the UN Refugee Agency
Ukraine appeals to the European Union for the immediate accession to the EU under a new special procedure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announces
Talks between Russia and Ukraine have begun at a location on the border with Belarus
Shares in oil-giant BP has slumped after its decision to sell its nearly 20% stake in Russian oil business Rosneft
Defence secretary Ben Wallace said he does not ‘want to see British people killed any more than I want to see Ukrainians’ as he urged people in the UK not to join the fighting
Despite continued attempts to suppress details of the conflict from the Russian population, the Russian Armed Forces has for the first time been forced to acknowledge suffering casualties
Boris Johnson has announced that immediate family members will be able to join Ukrainians settled in the UK as they flee the Russian invasion
Johnson has told President Zelensky he would do ‘all he could’ to ensure further military aid reaches Ukrainian forces, Downing Street has said
The bulk of Putin’s ground forces remain more than 30km to the north of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, according to the Ministry of Defence
The Russian advance has been slowed by ‘logistical failures and staunch Ukrainian resistance’
The number of refugees from Ukraine who have crossed to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and other countries is now 368,000, according to the UN high commissioner for refugees

Conservative MPs have written to Boris Johnson calling on him to go further in supporting refugees fleeing Ukraine.

They said: “We must act now and we need to act decisively.

“We also hope our ministers will seek a flexible and pragmatic approach to those Ukrainians wishing to seek temporary refuge in the UK until it is safe to return to their lives in their home country.

“The United Kingdom cannot flag or fail, our message must be clear: Ukrainian victims of war seeking refuge are welcome.”

The letter was signed by 37 Tory MPs including West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Andrew Bowie, former Conservative deputy leader Damian Green, Matt Hancock and Jeremy Hunt.

Johnson announced that immediate family members will be able to join Ukrainians settled in the UK as they flee the Russian invasion, but an update is expected on Monday afternoon.

The Government has faced intense criticism over its failure to relax the visa requirements for Ukrainian nationals.

The number of refugees from Ukraine who have crossed to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and other countries is now 500,000, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

Conservative politicians, along with families, campaigners and opposition MPs, have called for more to be done for refugees.

Before the Prime Minister’s announcement, only Ukrainians deemed to be dependents of British nationals were guaranteed entry.

But the change still leaves the UK behind its allies, with European Union states planning to take all Ukrainian refugees without a need to apply for asylum for up to three years.

Nicola Sturgeon has called on the UK Government to scrap visa requirements for all Ukrainian citizens fleeing conflict with immediate effect.

She described the UK immigration system as “inhumane” and “indefensible.”

The Home Office guidance deems Ukrainian family of Britons in Ukraine as eligible for a free visa if their British relative is:

a spouse or civil partner
an unmarried partner (you must have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years)
your parent if you are under the age of 18
your child under the age of 18
an adult relative you provide care for who lives with you due to a medical condition

The UK will send £40m more in aid to provide vital medical supplies and assistance to Ukraine, widening economic and military support to bolster the Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion.

In a statement Johnson said: “In the last days the world has witnessed awe-inspiring displays of bravery and heroism from the Ukrainian people in response to those who seek to obliterate their freedom by force.

“The UK will not turn our backs in Ukraine’s hour of need.”

A Scottish dad hit out at the UK Government as he remained in a massive queue along with thousands of people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ken Stewart, from Edinburgh, had been waiting at the Poland/Ukraine border for 27 hours with his two-week-old son after the family fled the advancing conflict.

He said, even once they cross, his wife will have to go through a “convoluted visa application” in order to take refuge in the UK.

On Monday morning, the Ministry of Defence issued an intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine, saying: “The bulk of Putin’s ground forces remain more than 30km to the north of Kyiv their advance having been slowed by Ukrainian forces defending Hostomel airfield, a key Russian objective for day one of the conflict.

“Heavy fighting continues around Chernihiv and Kharkiv however both cities remain under Ukrainian control.

“Logistical failures and staunch Ukrainian resistance continue to frustrate the Russian advance.

“Despite continued attempts to suppress details of the conflict from the Russian population, the Russian Armed Forces has for the first time been forced to acknowledge suffering casualties.”