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Ukrainian mum fears losing UK home three years on

Lara Davies
BBC Radio WM
BBC A woman with brown hair dressed all in black is sat on a black leather sofa next to a young woman who is wearing a brown T-shirt.BBC
Natalia Kogut, with her daughter Melisa, was one of more than 300,000 Ukrainians given sanctuary in the UK

A professor has recalled the "traumatic" experience of fleeing the war in Ukraine and says refugees are still facing uncertainty three years on.

Natalia Kogut, who works at the University of Birmingham as a research fellow, was one of more than 300,000 Ukrainians given sanctuary in the UK after Russia's full-scale invasion of the country.

She has claimed that many Ukrainians now face losing their jobs and tenancy agreements due to their temporary visas running out.

The Home Office said those with permission could apply to remain in the UK for an additional 18 months.

Ms Kogut claimed she was having trouble extending her own tenancy due to her visa expiring in March, leaving her facing an uncertain future.

"It's just impossible," the 42-year-old said. "It's not even possible to take out a loan for a mobile phone.

"It's a serious problem for Ukrainians. We have no stability [and] we can't plan for the future."

A woman with brown hair dressed all in black is stood next to a girl who is wearing a brown T-shirt. They are standing in front of a painting of a wintery scene depicting a cottage in the snow with a deer next to a lake.
Ms Kogut says she now wants to stay in the UK's second city where she has rebuilt her life

Charities have also called on the government to rethink the visas offered to those who fled the war in eastern Europe.

Many Ukrainian nationals who moved to the UK in February 2022 will soon have to apply to extend their visa via the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPE).

But while it offers an 18-month extension, it does not offer any permanent option to remain.

According to those supported by the Ukraine Appeal charity based in Buckinghamshire, some employers are reluctant to hire Ukrainians because of their temporary status.

Ms Kogut, from Kyiv, said she thought she would be in Birmingham for just a "few months" but now wants to stay in the UK's second city, where she has rebuilt her life.

"The process has been very difficult," she explained. "Three years feels like 10 years at least.

"It's horrible. We still don't know what is going to happen with Ukraine [or] whether it will even exist."

The Home Office said the conflict was "unpredictable" in nature, and it would continue to keep its Ukraine schemes under review.

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