Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Ukrainian refugees have continued to flood out of the country: the official UN stats put the total number who’ve registered for temporary protection in countries across Europe at just over six million. That’s a huge number of people who need pretty much all the compassion and help they can get.
Countries across Europe have rallied to help Ukraine and the country’s refugees – and that goes for the UK, too. In fact, recent data shows that the UK has now taken in more than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees since the Russian invasion began, which is, by any measure, a seriously impressive number.
Ukrainians have been able to make the most of two kinds of visa schemes to come to the UK. One scheme, which has been used by 31,300 refugees, allows them to come and live with relatives that already live in the UK. Much of the rest (72,700, to be exact) have come over on the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, which has seen Brits take Ukrainians into their own homes.
A grand total of 104,000 Ukrainians have now arrived in the UK – and there could be many more to come. In total the UK government has received 198,200 visa applications, so we could see roughly another 100,000 arrive in the coming months. Ukrainians on both of the visa schemes get to live and work in the UK for up to three years.
The response has been pretty life-affirming, to say the least. If you’d like to get involved in the Homes for Ukraine scheme, you can find out more here.
Here are 23 ways you can help the people of Ukraine right now.