Half a million flee Ukraine as UK rules out visa waiver for refugees

A further 100,000 Ukrainians will be able to seek sanctuary in the UK, the Home Secretary has announced, but Priti Patel has ruled out a visa waiver for those fleeing the conflict with Russia following Vladimir Putin's invasion.

Ms Patel's announcement came as the United Nations refugee agency said more than half a million people had fled Ukraine since the invasion on Thursday.

Most - estimated to be about 300,000 - have gone to Poland while others have fled to Romania and Hungary. And millions have left their homes.

[LincolnClay]

The UK doesn't even help its own homeless population.

[columodonnell]

UK gov will let in economic migrants from all over the world but not fellow european refugees... I wonder why. It couldnt have anything to with race, right?

[SCRT]

Hello from Kyiv. We thought we would have died by now, but the main attack is not yet here. I’m sure this will be our grave, but we will take as many Russians with us as possible. This city is a fortress now with every kind of weapon. It’s better to die as a free man than to live a

[borisisanutjob]

I really don't think Ukrainians care which country they go to as long as it's safe

[Soldier]

Good old Patel being ruthless for no reason whatsoever…

Let’s help these people NOW!!!

They need our help.

[hallamrafat]

STAY STRONG PEOPLE, PEACE FOR ALL NATIONS!☮☮

[roystonrubble]

I'm confused, aren't we all supposed to be terrified of covid? What happened to it? Seems to have disappeared

[whodywei]

But UK would spend more weapons to keep the fighting going ????

[mikedevlin]

Once again we see the dispicible behaviour of "Career politicians".... They are totally out of touch with their voters...

[ramal]

UK:"we already did our heavy lifting by sending supplies, aid and weapons to Ukraine and sanctioned Russia"

Also UK:"take those Ukrainian refugees to the EU countries and let them do their part, we're not in EU anymore too"

[DAM]

If we let them come to UK. Where will they go? There isn't enough accomodation for UK residents.

[killnj]

What about Africans and Indians stranded in Ukraine

[nahomentertainment]

This is horrible, My heart goes out to the civilians!!!😭💔🇺🇦🙏

[virtualtourwithnana]

The most critical moment is here, I hope everything is well!🙏🙏🙏

[Ramschat]

The UK is happy to watch thousands suffer, but not to help the victims fleeing the carnage

[stranger]

My heart goes for the Ukrainians, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and all victims of US/NATO

[trevaudio]

UK government…..all talk, little else !

[katecannon]

No words for the utter shame this joke of a government bring to the UK, utterly disgusting and from an considering Patel’s parents came here as economic migrants NOTE ECONOMIC MIGRANT she is beyond comprehension, make me literally 🤮

[kundersachin]

According to BBC white color and blue eyes are welcomed.

[SilverDomUK]

Truth of the matter is we're already stretched to breaking point in the UK. We have taken refugee's and financial migrants for years and years and everything has been pushed to breaking point. That's why most people wanted out of the EU so we could actually try and take control of our borders. We have had thousands of people arriving illegally each day because everyone seems to view the UK as an easy life. Because we have been such a soft touch for years we have been taken advantage of and we can't even care for all our own people already let alone taking on everyone else's needs too!