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https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2022/03/11/factsheet-home-office-visa-support-for-ukrainians/

Factsheet: Home Office visa support for Ukrainians

• The Home Office stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
• The generous Ukraine Family Scheme provides an immediate pathway for people from Ukraine with family already in the UK to come here.
• It is designed to allow as many as people as possible to come to the UK and gives them immediate access to the support they need.
• The Scheme was developed in close consultation with Ukrainian leaders and the diaspora community to ensure our measures respond directly to their needs and asks, and we will continue to work with them to make changes as necessary.
• Ukrainians with valid passports and who are eligible for the Scheme do not need to go to a Visa Application Centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK.
• The Ukraine Extension Scheme, which will go live on 3 May, will give Ukrainians already in the UK on temporary visas, alongside their family members, three years’ leave and full access to work, study and public funds.
• We continue to keep our support under constant review and will adapt and develop the visa routes in place to ensure they keep pace with the rapidly shifting situation in Ukraine.

Eligibility

Family members of British nationals and those settled in the UK are eligible to come to here. This includes:

• Immediate family members (spouses, civil partners, partners, children under 18 and parents of children under 18)
• Grandparents
• Grandchildren
• Adult children
• Aunts and uncles
• Nieces and nephews

Visa requirements

The Ukraine Family Scheme is a fee-free visa route. There are no salary or language tests, but people will need to pass security checks.

How to apply with a valid passport

From Tuesday 15 March, valid Ukraine passport holders do not need to attend in-person Visa Application Centre appointments to submit fingerprints or facial verification when making applications under the Ukraine Family Scheme.

Once their application has been considered and the appropriate checks completed, they will receive direct notification that they are eligible for the scheme.

The majority of applications can be completed entirely online without attending a Visa Appointment Centre.

All applicants will still need to complete an online application form . Application forms must be completed for each family member, including one application per child.

Step-by-step guide

• Individual fills in the online application form
• Individual uploads scan of their passport
• Casework teams in the UK do appropriate biographical / security checks
• Individual receives email confirming permission to come to the UK, which they present to the transport carrier as authority to travel
• Border Force officers do any appropriate additional checks (e.g. safe guarding) on arrival and stamp their passport with six months’ leave to enter
• Individual visits a visa centre in the UK to give biometrics which finalises the grant of 36 months’ leave

How to apply without a valid passport

Applicants who hold identity cards and do not have a valid passport will still need to attend a VAC in person and provide their biometric information.

When applicants have completed an online form , they can book an appointment at any Visa Application Centre throughout Europe.

They should then attend their Visa Application Centre appointment, where they be required to submit their biometric information.

Once the visa application has been processed, we will contact applicants.

Applicants should remain in the location where they have submitted their application until they are contacted.

Leave to remain in the UK

• Those joining family in the UK through the Ukraine Family Scheme and people with temporary visas in the UK who apply to the Ukraine Extension Scheme will be granted leave for three years.
• Valid passport holders who have not attended a VAC will be granted six months leave to enter the UK outside the rules, enabling them to work, study and claim benefits immediately. Once they have submitted biometric data in the UK, they will have their leave extended to three years.

Ukraine Extension Scheme

• The Ukraine Extension Scheme will go live on 3 May and will be open to Ukrainians in the UK on temporary visas, including work, study, or visitor visas, alongside their family members, to apply for three years’ leave to remain in the UK.
• Any Ukrainian whose leave to remain in the UK expired between 1 January 2022 and the Ukraine Extension Scheme coming into effect will still qualify for three years’ leave.
• Ukrainians here as workers (including under the Seasonal Work route)
• Ukrainians here as students and graduates
• Ukrainians here as visitors
• Ukrainians here with leave under the family and private life routes
• Ukrainians here as the dependants of third country nationals in any route
• Ukrainians here with exempt status
• Ukrainians here who have been granted temporary leave to enter or remain outside the rules
• Ukrainians here with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• The non-Ukrainian dependants of Ukrainians in these cohorts, who would be granted leave in line.
• If you want information on the Ukraine Family Scheme, you should call the dedicated Home Office line +44 (0)808 164 8810 – select option 1.  This option is now available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
• If you are a Ukrainian national in the UK and need assistance, please call the dedicated Home Office line  +44 (0)808 164 8810 – select option 1. This option is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
• Further advice can be found at:  Support for family members of British nationals in Ukraine, and Ukrainian nationals in Ukraine and the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Myth buster:

Why don’t you just waive visas.

• We’ve already waived some of the normal requirements under this scheme, in order to help people forced to flee be reunited with their families in the UK as quickly as possible.
• Security and identity checks are a fundamental part of our visa process in order to keep people in this country safe, and this is consistent with our approach to the evacuation of Afghanistan.
• That is vital both to keep British citizens safe, but also to ensure that we are helping those in genuine need – as the Minister set out, we are already seeing people presenting false documents claiming to be Ukrainians.

Can’t you just do biometric checks on the street? Why do you need to go to the VAC?

• We take biometrics in secure VACs for the safety and security of our customers and staff, and to ensure sensitive data captured on our biometrics equipment is secure.

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Security Alert May 17, 2024

Worldwide caution, update may 10, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

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Ukraine Travel Advisory

Travel advisory may 22, 2023, ukraine - level 4: do not travel.

Do not travel to Ukraine due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Department of State continues to advise that U.S. citizens not travel to Ukraine due to active armed conflict. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

All U.S. citizens should carefully monitor U.S. government notices and local and international media outlets for information about changing security conditions and alerts to shelter in place. Those choosing to remain in Ukraine should exercise caution due to the potential for military attacks, crime, civil unrest, and consult the Department’s latest security alerts.

The security situation in Ukraine remains unpredictable. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should stay vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. Know the location of your closest shelter or protected space. In the event of mortar, missile, drone, or rocket fire, follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately. If you feel your current location is no longer safe, you should carefully assess the potential risks involved in moving to a different location.

There are continued reports of Russian forces and their proxies singling out U.S. citizens in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine for detention, interrogation, or harassment because of their nationality. U.S. citizens have also been singled out when evacuating by land through Russia-occupied territory or to Russia or Belarus.

U.S. citizens seeking emergency assistance should email [email protected] for assistance. Please review what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas . U.S. citizens may also seek consular services, including requests for repatriation loans, passports, and visa services, at U.S. embassies and consulates in neighboring countries .

On February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian government declared a state of emergency. Each province (oblast) decides on measures to be implemented according to local conditions. Measures could include curfews, restrictions on the freedom of movement, ID verification, and increased security inspections, among other measures. Follow any oblast-specific state of emergency measures.

Many in the international community, including the United States and Ukraine, do not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea in 2014, nor the September 2022 purported annexation of four other Ukrainian oblasts -- Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. There is extensive Russian Federation military presence in these areas. There are also abuses against foreigners and the local population by the occupation authorities in these regions, particularly against those who are seen as challenging Russia’s occupation.

Although Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine severely restricts the Embassy’s access and ability to provide services in these areas, the Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv continue to remotely provide certain emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – to the extent possible given security conditions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. aviation operations into, out of, within, or over Ukraine. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the FAA’s Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices .

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Ukraine.

Travel to High-Risk Areas

If you choose to disregard the Travel Advisory and travel to Ukraine, you should consider taking the following steps:

• Visit our website on Travel to High-Risk areas .
• Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
• Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
• Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States.
• Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.
• Establish your own personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organization or consider consulting with a professional security organization.
• Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. This plan should specify who you would contact first and how they should share the information.
• Enroll your trip in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

If you are currently in Ukraine:

• Read the Department’s country information page on Ukraine.
• Familiarize yourself with information on what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas .
• Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your contingency plans based on the new information.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
• Ensure travel documents are valid and easily accessible.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Notices related to your travel.
• Get a COVID vaccine to facilitate your travel.
• Understand the COVID testing and vaccine requirements for all countries that you will transit through to your destination.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Review the Country Security Report for Ukraine.
• Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
• Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk areas .

Travel Advisory Levels

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• News & insights
• Guide for people leaving Ukraine to the UK
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Charlie Pring

Senior Counsel

Vikki Wiberg

Alexandra MacMahon

Senior Immigration Adviser

• On this page

16 March 2022

Legal and practical guide for people leaving Ukraine to the UK

• In-depth analysis

Update from 16 March 2022

How can people leaving Ukraine enter the UK?

EU countries have permitted visa-free entry and have agreed to implement the Temporary Protection Directive  to protect those fleeing war in Ukraine. In contrast, the UK requires all nationals of Ukraine to have a UK visa or immigration permission before entering the UK. That visa requirement applies in all cases, regardless of the traveller's personal circumstances or visa eligibility. Airlines and other transport operators are unlikely to allow Ukrainian nationals to travel to the UK without a valid visa or evidence of appropriate immigration permission.

Unless applying for the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine schemes (see below), the applicant must attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) outside the UK to provide face scans and fingerprints (biometrics) as part of the visa process.

Ukrainian nationals that already hold a valid UK visitor or other visa issued before the invasion can still travel on that visa if the visa conditions continue to be met. Any visitor entering the UK may be asked at the UK border about their intention to leave. The response to this will depend on the longer-term plans of the traveller, including considering the concession available allowing Ukrainian visitors to switch into other visa routes.

The requirements on entry to the UK for other non-Ukrainian nationals that are resident in Ukraine depends on the nationality (passport) of the individual. For example, nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) do not need a prior visa to enter the UK as a visitor.

Should Ukrainian nationals arriving in the UK claim asylum?

Asylum is outside the scope of this guidance and our firm's UK work. These FAQs focus on other available visa routes. Ukrainians arriving in the UK are likely to be eligible for asylum and/or humanitarian protection due to (for example) a well-founded fear of persecution on the ground of Ukrainian nationality. Other grounds may also apply.

It is not possible to claim asylum outside the UK, including at ports in Europe. There is also no 'asylum seeker visa' for people to enter the UK for the purpose of claiming asylum.

There is more information on the Right to Remain website, but we recommend taking advice from an asylum specialist before applying for asylum. There are restrictions imposed on all asylum seekers and limited funds available to the applicant once an application for asylum is made. The applicant will probably not be permitted to work in the UK while the claim is pending, which may take many months to process.

Anyone wishing to apply for asylum will need to do this quickly after arrival in the UK. Any delay may count against the applicant in their claim.

How to apply for a visa

All UK visa applications must be submitted online, but some applicants to the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine schemes do not need to attend a visa appointment to give their fingerprints and face scans (biometrics) at a VAC outside the UK. That was previously required for all applicants when the Ukraine Family Scheme launched, but this part of the process was removed from 15 March 2022 for some (not all) applicants as explained below.

All other visa applicants must enrol biometrics at a VAC appointment. The VAC in Kyiv is closed, and although there was a temporary pop-up VAC in Lviv, that has also now closed.

Applicants for visitor visas or visas of any other type (such as work or study) that can travel safely over the border can apply in a neighbouring country. For example, applications can be submitted in Poland, Romania, Hungary or Moldova, but all commercial flights from Ukraine have been suspended so flights out of Ukraine are not available. Also, as we understand it, following the declaration of martial law by the Ukrainian government, all male citizens between 18 and 60 have been banned from leaving Ukraine.

For those able to travel safely, VACs are currently operating throughout Europe including:

• Budapest, Hungary
• Chisinau, Moldova
• Warsaw, Poland
• Bucharest, Romania
• Paris, France

How long can Ukrainian nationals stay in the UK?

This depends on the type of visa or permission granted. For example, visitor visas are valid for a maximum of six months from entry, although there are concessions for Ukrainian visitors (see below) that may permit them to switch into a different visa category without having to leave the UK.

How can Ukrainians join British or other family members in the UK?

The Ukraine Family Scheme (UFS) launched on 4 March 2022. This scheme is not open to all Ukrainian nationals leaving Ukraine – it is only available to those Ukrainians (and immediate family members) that are family members of British nationals, settled persons and others in the UK (defined below). Eligible applicants can apply to join family members or extend their stay in the UK.

It is free to apply, and applicants granted permission will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds. A visa under this scheme will be granted for up to three years.

To apply to the UFS applicants must:

• be applying to join or accompany a UK-based family member, and
• be Ukrainian or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme, and
• have been residing in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022 (including those who have now left Ukraine).

Anyone needing assistance can call the 24/7 free helpline +44 808 164 8810 (0808 164 8810 for those in the UK). Anyone unable to contact UK 0808 numbers can call +44 (0)175 390 7510.

What UK-based family members qualify?

The UK based family member of the visa applicant must be one of the following:

• a British national
• someone settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
• someone from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland who has pre-settled status and started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, or
• someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.

The applicant will need to provide evidence that their UK-based family member is one of the following:

1. an immediate family member , meaning one of:

• a spouse or civil partner
• an unmarried partner (the couple must have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years)
• the applicant's child under the age of 18
• parent (if the applicant is under 18)
• fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner

2. an extended family member, meaning one of:

• parent (if the visa applicant is over 18)
• child who is over 18
• the applicant's grandparent
• the applicant's grandchild or the applicant's partner’s grandchild
• the applicant's brother or sister
• the applicant's aunt or uncle
• the applicant's niece or nephew
• the applicant's cousin
• the applicant's mother-in-law or father-in-law
• the applicant's grandparent-in-law
• the applicant's brother-in-law or sister-in-law

3. an immediate family member of an extended family member , meaning one of:

• spouse or civil partner of an extended family member
• child under 18 of an extended family member
• parent of a child under 18 who is an extended family member
• fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of an extended family member

If the UK-based family member is the applicant's (or an extended family member’s) spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner the relationship must have started before 1 January 2022.

What about other British or settled family members not on that list?

The guidance states that other family members will be considered on a discretionary basis where there are 'exceptional circumstances'. This will depend on what meaningful connection the applicant has to their immediate family unit, their sponsor in the UK, and the UK itself. A case may be exceptional where a decision to refuse the visa would mean separating an individual from their long-term family unit in Ukraine.

Are all UFS applicants are exempt from attending a biometrics appointment at a VAC?

No. To be exempt from attending a VAC, the applicant must hold a valid Ukrainian international passport or an expired Ukrainian international passport with a formal extension stamp issued by the Ukrainian government. Those applicants will need to complete an application online, but do not need to attend an appointment at a VAC.

If the application is approved, the applicant will receive an official approval letter confirming they can travel to the UK. That letter will allow them to board a plane or other form of transport. On arrival in the UK, the traveller can show the letter to a Border Force official who will endorse the applicant's passport with a six-month stamp. Each person will then need to submit biometrics (that may be possible through an app, or alternatively by visiting an application centre in the UK) within that six-month period to extend stay up to three years.

Applicants that do not hold a valid Ukrainian international passport (for example if they only hold a domestic passport or ID card) will need to book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre outside the UK as part of the UK visa process. Children under 5 that do not hold a valid Ukrainian international passport will not have fingerprints taken but will still need to attend a VAC appointment to have a digital photograph taken. Rather than just an approval letter, successful applicants will receive a visa to enable them to travel to the UK.

What evidence is needed to apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme?

Applicants will need to apply online and provide evidence of:

1. their identity, for example

• a valid passport (as above, only those with an international Ukrainian passport will be exempt from attending a VAC outside the UK)
• an expired passport that expired in the last 10 years for applicants over 25 or last 5 years for applicants under 25
• a Ukrainian nationality identity card, or a combination of other documents containing a facial image such as a photo driving licence and a birth certificate), or
• an emergency certificate issued by a Ukrainian authority since March 2022.

2. their (UK-based) sponsor's identity, such as a copy of the biographical page of their British passport or a ShareCode for the holder of an eVisas under the EU Settlement Scheme or otherwise.

3. their relationship to their UK-based family member. For example, a marriage certificate or birth certificate for a child if one is available. Applicants that are unable to provide this document can still apply, explaining why they are unable to do so.

4. their residence in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022, for example providing a passport, official documents issued by the Ukrainian authorities, utility bills, mortgage statements, medical letters etc, although obviously supporting paperwork may be extremely difficult to obtain especially for those that have already fled their homes. Residence should be assumed in most cases.

There is no English language requirement, no salary or funds requirement and no tuberculosis (TB) testing requirement, so no relevant evidence of these is required. There are also no visa fees or Immigration Health Surcharge fees (to give access to free NHS healthcare in the UK) to pay either. After arrival in the UK, visa holders do not need to register with the police.

If supporting documents are unavailable, applicants should explain why they are unable to provide the document in question and request discretion.

How long will it take to process a Ukraine Family Scheme visa?

Applications will be 'prioritised" with an aim to make a visa decision as quickly as possible, but for those applicants that must attend a VAC outside the UK, there may be pressure around availability of biometric appointments, which may cause delays.

What rights are available with a Ukraine Family Scheme visa?

Visa holders will have the unconditional right to live in the UK for the three-year visa period. They can work for any employer and will have free access to healthcare, education and benefits. The usual restriction on UK visa holders that prevents them from accessing public funds and benefits, or receiving housing assistance, will not apply to anyone granted Ukraine Family Scheme status.

What about Ukrainian nationals that do not have British or settled family members?

Unfortunately, the Ukraine Family Scheme does not extend to every person with family members in the UK. For example, it does not apply to a Ukrainian citizen in the UK on a temporary time-limited work or study visa that has extended family members such as parents or grandparents living in the Ukraine.

Those in Ukraine should check whether they have a visa route based on the UK immigration status of their non-British family member or partner that lives in the UK. For example, if the person resident in the UK has status under the EU Settlement Scheme ("settled" or "pre-settled status"), that may provide an alternative route for immediate and extended family members that do not qualify under the Ukraine Family Scheme.

For anyone else that does not have a qualifying family tie to the UK or an alternative UK visa option available (such as a sponsored Skilled Worker visa or Global Talent visa), the UK government has announced plans for a new sponsorship-based refugee scheme for Ukrainians and their immediate family members. This humanitarian scheme will allow sponsors, such as communities, private sponsors or local authorities, to bring those forced to flee Ukraine to the UK.

There will be no visa cap or limit on this scheme and the UK will grant visas for as many Ukrainians as wish to come and have matched sponsors.

Those who come under this scheme will also be granted leave for an initial period of three years and will be able to work and access benefits and public services.

The UK intends to make sure that those who want to sponsor an individual or family can volunteer and be matched quickly with Ukrainians in need, working closely with the devolved administrations and local authorities across the country.

Phase one of the scheme for Ukrainian applicants to apply for immigration status to live with a private individual sponsor in their UK home for at least 6 months will open on 18 March.

Like with UFS:

• applicants must have been resident in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022, and
• only Ukrainian citizens with a valid international passport will be exempt from attending a VAC. All other applicants to the Homes for Ukraine scheme must attend a VAC outside the UK.

Are there are concessions for Ukrainian citizens already living in the UK?

Yes. It is now possible for applicants to apply online inside the UK to switch into the UFS (this was not possible when the scheme first opened) and then attend a visa appointment centre.

UKVI has agreed some other temporary concessions to support Ukrainian nationals currently in the UK who are now unable to return when their existing visa expires. These concessions will assist Ukrainian nationals in remaining in the UK without having to leave and re-apply from overseas.

Ukrainian citizens that are already in the UK and unable to return to Ukraine may be able to extend their visa or switch to another immigration route even if their visa route does not normally allow this. In addition to the ability to apply to the UFS, examples of the concessions are set out below, but the full list is available here .

• For visitor visa holders in the UK, UKVI has introduced a temporary concession to allow Ukrainian nationals to switch into a points-based route (such as work or study) or a family visa route from inside the UK. Applicants will need to meet the requirements of that visa route and pay the associated visa fees.
• Anyone on a Skilled Worker visa that is due to expire can apply to extend their permission or apply for settlement if they meet the requirements. Full details can be found in the Skilled Worker visa guidance .
• Anyone on a Student visa that is due to expire can apply to extend their leave or switch to a Graduate visa, if they meet the requirements. Full details can be found in the Student visa guidance .

What is the minimum salary in the UK?

Minimum salary is governed by National Minimum Wage rules and depend on the age of the worker.

Links to useful websites

• UK government
• Home Office (government agency responsible for UK immigration)
• Find a job (government site)
• Indeed or Totaljobs
• Trainline (train tickets and schedules)
• Citizens Advice Bureau (free legal and consumer advice)
• Shelter (housing advice)

Contacts at Taylor Wessing London

• Charlie Pring (+44 (0)20 7300 4256, [email protected] )
• Vikki Wiberg (+44 (0)20 7300 4738, [email protected] )
• Alexandra MacMahon (+44 (0)20 7300 4740, [email protected] )

This general guidance is correct as at publication, but the rules and guidance are changing frequently without notice, so is not a substitute for legal advice. Immigration laws are always subject to change.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Ukrainian troops offer Russian cigarette and first aid after fierce combat

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Bodycam footage shows the ferocious reality of the trench warfare raging in Ukraine as Kyiv’s forces assault a Russian dugout. 

Five soldiers engage in close-quarters fighting as they capture the redoubt and take a prisoner of war before offering him a cigarette — viewing him as an ‘exchange fund’ for the return of their own personnel.

The scene is reminiscent of the world wars as the assault group clears the bullet-riddled post in a wood which is being shelled by Vladimir Putin ’s forces who are trying to advance in the eastern Donbas region. 

In the graphic, point-of-view video, the Ukrainian troops with the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo use assault rifles, a submachine gun and hand grenades as they try to flush out Russian soldiers hiding a few feet away in the fortified tunnels. 

At one point they come under fire before shooting and throwing explosives into the dugout, one of several enemy positions in the village of Bohdanivka, which lies near the strategically valuable frontline city of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk. 

As they rake the post with gunfire, one of the Ukrainians shouts ‘are you f****** getting out or not?’

The Russian infantryman clambers out, saying: ‘My hands are in the air!’ 

The prisoner is then asked by his Ukrainian captor if he wants a smoke and told: ‘Just don’t be stupid ok, or you’ll be lying dead next to your mates.’

The 24th soldier tells his comrade to ‘tape him up so he doesn’t die’ after the prisoner says he has a leg wound. 

Fierce combat has taken place around Chasiv Yar, with other videos posted on social media showing Ukrainian infantry and drone operators repelling Russian troops who have been using tanks and other armoured vehicles in their effort to capture the town.

A representative of the brigade who spoke with Metro.co.uk drew a contrast with the Russian treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war (PoWs), which has included detailed accounts of torture, arbitrary executions and denial of communication with families.  

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In March 2023, a video emerged showing Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr Matsievskyi smoking a cigarette in a trench and saying ‘Slava Ukraini’, which translates as ‘Glory to Ukraine’, before suspected Russian troops shoot him dead.

The sniper with a unit from Chernihiv was posthumously awarded the Hero of Ukraine medal.

Andrii Polukhin, press service representative for the 24th, told Metro.co.uk that a group of five soldiers captured several positions and a PoW without any losses.  

‘The difference is clear,’ he said.

‘We are part of the civilized world, we treat prisoners as human beings and adhere to international conventions.

‘We want to have an exchange fund to bring back every captured Ukrainian soldier. They, on the other hand, do not consider it necessary to follow any rules of war.’ 

Mr Polukhin also used the video to demonstrate the critical need for the supply of Western arms to bolster his homeland’s defence.

The 24th, which honours the 13th Century ruler Danylo Romanovych, has been fighting since the outset of Russian military aggression in 2014.    ‘The world needs to unite against Russia and see that we can conduct successful military operations even with limited military aid supplies,’ Mr Polukhin said.     ‘Our soldiers have good combat skills — brigades like ours have been fighting since 2014.

‘If we add the latest weapons and equipment to the experience of our units, it will be very effective.

‘That is why we need the support of the whole world.’ 

The footage was described as ‘terrifying’ by United24 , Ukraine’s official fundraising platform, which shared the video on social media last week.

The organisation marked its second anniversary yesterday with a message from Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who originally launched the initiative.  

The Ukrainian president thanked ‘millions of hearts around the globe’ for supporting the fund in aid of Kyiv’s war effort and spoke about a new campaign to launch an ‘army’ of combat robots.

He hailed Ukraine’s innovations in maritime and aerial drone technology and said: ‘We are adding another component to help people — we have to make it commonplace for our Defence Forces to use robotic platforms. These platforms must be efficient and sufficient, protecting the lives of our soldiers.’ 

On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces made advances near Lyptis in Kharkiv Oblast while Russia took ground near Avdiivka and the Donetsk-Zaporizhia border area, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Moscow’s forces were shown in footage conducting ‘platoon-sized mechanised attacks’ east of Chasiv Yar but did not make any confirmed advances, the US think-tank said yesterday.  

Meanwhile, the UK Ministry of Defence said that the annual Russian International Army Games had been called off, with likely reasons including possible criticism of a ‘trivial activity’ in wartime and a shortage of skilled military personnel and equipment risking the host nation’s ‘consistent domination’ of the competition. 

MORE : Inside Ukraine shadow warriors’ daring missions within sights of Russian guns

MORE : Why a Brit is standing firm in embattled city despite Putin’s forces closing in

MORE : British man walks 300km to fight in Ukraine after Putin’s forces kill friend

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv launches major attack on Crimea naval base using Western weapons

The early-morning attack in Crimea was carried out with weapons from Kyiv's allies - which were "extremely effective", a Ukrainian military source said. Meanwhile, the Russian foreign minister has said he hopes nuclear drills will "knock sense" into the West after jets were pledged.

Thursday 30 May 2024 20:02, UK

• Ukraine launches major attack against Russian base in Crimea  
• Moscow hopes nuclear drills will 'knock sense' into West over fighter jet plans
• Italy says no to Ukraine using Western weapons to strike Russia
• Putin names ex-bodyguard for senior role - fuelling succession rumours
• Siobhan Robbins eyewitness:  NATO's biggest drill since the Cold War is a warning for Putin to stay away
• The big picture : What you need to know about the war right now

NATO operation Steadfast Defender continues across Europe - the largest exercises since the Cold War. 

The exercise is widely interpreted as preparation or a simulation of a response to a potential conflict with Russia.

Sky's Europe correspondent Siobhan Robbins watched as tanks, helicopters and soldiers took part. 

The US is close to completing a deal that would secure the bilateral security agreement with Ukraine that Joe Biden announced last year at a G7 meeting, a source has told Reuters. 

G7 nations, led by Washington, unveiled a framework in July for the long-term security of Ukraine to boost its defences against Russia.

The comments from the official come after a Financial Times report published earlier today which claimed a deal was close. 

Fierce fighting is intensifying near the eastern city of Pokrovsk, Ukraine's general staff has reported.

"The number of engagements in the Pokrovsk sector remains the highest," it said in its afternoon update. 

The area, just northwest of the city of Donetsk, has had an increase in Russian activity in recent weeks. 

"The enemy has already made 18 offensive attempts there [today]," it reported. 

Five combat engagements have started in the vicinity of Novooleksandrivka, it added, noting a village about 30km east of Pokrovsk.

"Our troops also continue to repel the aggressor," the general staff said. 

Building our last post - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg is set to ask allies to pledge some €40bn in military aid to Ukraine each year, a source inside the alliance has told the Reuters news agency. 

The funding would sustain at least the current levels of military support allies have been sending. 

"We need to sustain that current level of support as a minimum to provide the predictability Ukraine needs, for as long as necessary," the NATO source said, adding that allies had provided some €40bn per year since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

No such deal has been publicly announced as of yet, but foreign minsters from allies are in Prague for talks currently. 

NATO's secretary general Jens Stoltenberg says Ukraine can win its war against Russia, but only if allies give "continued robust support".

Speaking ahead of a meeting with foreign ministers in Prague, Mr Stoltenberg adds "the time has come" for NATO countries to "consider some of the restrictions on weapons" sent to Ukraine.

The secretary general has also called for the West to lift restrictions on Western weapons being used against targets in Russia throughout the week.

Last month, he suggested allies should commit to providing Kyiv €100bn (£85bn) over the next five years.

France and Germany said yesterday they support Ukraine striking military targets inside Russia, but Italy's foreign minister ruled it out earlier today (see 8.50am post).

Some Western allies have refused to let Ukraine use munitions it has supplied in Russian territory over fears it would escalate the conflict.

Lord Cameron said at the start of the month that  Kyiv could use British weapons  against targets in Russia - which the Kremlin called a "direct escalation".

This morning, Russia said it hopes nuclear deterrence would "knock some sense" into the West after Belgium promised to send 30 F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv over the next four years (see 7am post).

Robert Woodland, a US citizen who was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking in Russia, has appeared in a Moscow courtroom today.

Standing behind glass nearly five months after his arrest and with a shaved head, Mr Woodland was in court for a hearing.

Mr Woodland was detained in January, though it is unclear why he was in Russia at the time.

Russian media reports at the start of the year said his name matched that of a man who was interviewed by the daily newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda in 2020.

The man said in the interview that he was born in the Perm region in the Ural Mountains in 1991, and came to Russia to find his mother.

Russia has accused the US, NATO and others of escalating tensions with Ukraine and stoking a "senseless war".

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today the West has "in recent days and weeks embarked on a new round of escalation".

He added: "They are doing this deliberately. We hear a lot of bellicose statements… They are encouraging Ukraine in every possible way to continue this senseless war.

"This will all, of course, inevitably have consequences and will ultimately be very damaging to the interests of those countries that have taken the path of escalation."

Meanwhile, foreign ministers from NATO countries are set to meet in Prague today amid pressure to allow Ukraine to strike targets inside of Russia (see 12.10pm post). 

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, NATO countries have since provided military aid worth millions to Kyiv but with strict conditions on its use.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday it is "unfair" that Ukraine cannot strike inside Russia despite receiving long-range missiles from the West.

Russian missiles have struck the village of Mala Danylivka today, leaving many buildings in ruins.

The town, just on the outskirts of Kharkiv, was hit as part of Russia's northeastern offensive, which it launched this month.

Foreign ministers from NATO countries are set to meet in Prague later today - as calls to let Ukraine use supplied weapons in Russian territory grow.

Officials will meet for two days ahead of a NATO summit in July, where a new support package for Ukraine is expected to be announced.

Kyiv has been pressing Western supporters, particularly the US, to let it use long-range missiles to hit targets inside of Russia.

France and Germany said yesterday they support Ukraine striking military targets inside Russia, but Italy's foreign minister ruled it out.

In an interview earlier today, Antonio Tajani said "all the weapons leaving from Italy should be used within Ukraine" (see 8.50am post).

Ukraine launched a major attack against a Russian naval base in occupied Crimea early this morning.

At 1am today, the Ukrainian armed forces struck targets near the Kerch Bridge with precision guided missiles.

A Russian Mangust patrol boat was destroyed in the attack, a Ukrainian military source has told Sky News.

The source also confirmed that Western supplied weapons were used, adding they "proved extremely effective against this Russian military target despite high concentrations of Russian Air Defence Systems".

Nikolai Lukashenko, Crimea's Russian-installed transportation chief, claimed on Telegram that Ukraine's overnight attack damaged two transport ferries.

The Kerch Bridge, linking Russia and Crimea over the Kerch Strait, is regularly used by Moscow as a logistics hub to resupply its forces. It was built in 2018 after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea four years earlier.

Ukraine has launched frequent attacks on the crossing since the war began: in July last year, Kyiv attacked it with two suicide sea drones, damaging a span of the road bridge. 

The explosions  killed two civilians and injured one . Ukraine later formally admitted to launching the attack.

Our military analyst Sean Bell answered a reader's question on why Ukraine can't destroy the bridge earlier this month - click here to read more .

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• Entering and staying in the UK

Move to the UK if you’re coming from Ukraine

Check what you need to do before you travel to the UK and what to do after you arrive.

Before you travel to the UK

​​You need permission to enter the UK. Check which visa you can apply for .

Once your application has been processed, you’ll either get a visa or official letter of permission. You can use this to board a plane or other form of transport to the UK.

If you applied to be sponsored by the Scottish or Welsh government

If you apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (also known as ‘Homes for Ukraine’), you can choose the Scottish or Welsh government as your sponsor.

If your application is successful, they’ll contact you to let you know where you’ll be staying. They’ll also help with things like getting a bank account, accessing benefits, finding work and registering with a doctor.

There’s more information about the help you can get if the Scottish government is your sponsor or if the Welsh government is your sponsor .

What happens at the UK border

When you arrive in the UK, show your visa or your permission letter and passport to a Border Force officer.

If you’re bringing money or belongings

You can bring most personal belongings into the UK without having to speak with a customs officer. Use the green channel marked ‘nothing to declare’.

You must speak with a customs officer if you’re bringing:

• a personal vehicle
• prohibited or restricted goods, for example controlled drugs or weapons
• £10,000 or more in cash (or €10,000 or more if you’re coming to Northern Ireland), or the equivalent in another currency

Check how to bring your own vehicle to the UK and what to speak with a customs officer about .

If you’re bringing a pet

If you want to bring your pet with you, it might need to go into quarantine when you arrive. Find out what you need to do if you bring a pet .

Travelling to where you’re staying

In England, Scotland and Wales, you can get free onward travel by train, bus, coach or light rail from the major airport or port you arrive at. To be eligible, you must travel within 48 hours of arriving in the UK.

You can get free train or bus travel in Northern Ireland within 7 days of arriving.

Getting financial help

You can apply for benefits to get financial support. To be eligible for benefits you might have to pass a ‘residence test’ if you have recently arrived in the UK . These tests mean you usually need to wait for an amount of time before you are eligible for benefits.

You will automatically pass the residence test if all of the following apply: 

• you were living in Ukraine immediately before 1 January 2022 
• you left Ukraine because of the Russian invasion
• it does not say ‘no public funds’ or ‘no recourse to public funds’ on your immigration documents

If you do not have a job, cannot work or are on a low income

You can apply for Universal Credit if you do not have a job, cannot work or you’re on a low income. This benefit is paid each month. The amount you get depends on things like if you have a child or need help with housing costs.

You can open a UK bank account to get your benefits payments. If you’re not able to open a UK bank account you can still get benefit payments by using the Payment Exception Service

Read more on setting up a bank account .

If you have children

You can apply for Child Benefit if you have one or more children in the UK with you. If successful, you’ll get £24 a week for your eldest or only child and £15.90 for each additional child.

You might also be able to get help to pay for childcare if your child is not in school yet. You can apply for a school place once your child is 4 years old.

If you’re aged 66 or over

You can apply for Pension Credit to get extra money each week.

There’s different guidance for getting Pension Credit if you’re in Northern Ireland .

If you have a Homes for Ukraine visa

You can get a one-off payment of £200 per person when you arrive in the UK if you have a Homes for Ukraine visa. To get this, contact the council where you live .

Getting your biometric residence permit ( BRP )

Your permission letter will tell you if you need to collect your biometric residence permit ( BRP ), and where to get it, when you arrive in the UK.

You need to get it within 10 days of arriving or by the expiry date on your visa, whichever is later.

A BRP is a card with your immigration status on it. You can use it to prove your right to study and claim any benefits you’re eligible for.

If you need to provide your biometric information

Your permission letter might say you need to provide your biometric information once you’re in the UK.

If it does, you need to do this within 6 months of arriving in the UK to get your BRP . This will allow you to stay for up to 3 years.

Fill in the online form to start the process of providing your biometric information .

Where you can live

You can live with family members, sponsors or in a property of your own.

If you want to live in a property of your own, you can search on property listings websites or go to local lettings agents. Find out about your rights and responsibilities if you rent a property .

Working in the UK

When you find a job with a UK employer you’ll need to prove your right to work . To use the online service you’ll need to have a BRP or a UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account.

You can show your employer the visa in your passport, if your passport has not expired, until you get your BRP .

If you do not have a passport and were given your visa on a form, you’ll need to get your BRP and use the online service.

Getting a National Insurance number

You might already have a National Insurance number if you applied for any benefits or have one on your BRP .

If you do not have one, you need to apply for a National Insurance number to work in the UK.

Help finding work

You can use the ‘Find a job’ service to search and apply for jobs .

If you claim benefits, there’s support to help you find work , such as training schemes and work experience.

Paying tax in the UK

If you’re employed, the tax you pay will usually be taken out of your salary automatically.

If you’re self-employed you may need to register for Self Assessment and send a tax return each year.

There are other reasons why you might need to send a tax return, such as if you have income from outside the UK. Check if you need to send a tax return .

If you’re taxed in the UK and Ukraine

You might get taxed in the UK and Ukraine for income that only needs to be taxed once. If this happens, you’ll usually be able to claim ‘double-taxation relief’.

You can check the guidance on:

• paying UK tax on your income from Ukraine
• paying Ukrainian tax on your UK income

Getting your child a school place

If you have children aged 4 to 16, you can apply for a school place. Contact the council where you live to find out which schools still have places and how to apply for an ‘in-year admission’.

Getting healthcare from the National Health Service (NHS)

You should register with an NHS doctor (known as a GP) for everyday health issues.

You can use the NHS for free, including NHS hospitals. You may be asked to show the stamp in your passport or BRP . You do not have to pay the immigration health surcharge.

Find out how to:

• register with a GP in England
• register with a GP in Scotland
• register with a GP in Northern Ireland

In Wales, find a GP surgery near you and ask them how to register.

Driving in the UK

You can use your Ukrainian driving licence for the first 12 months after you arrive. You’ll then need to exchange it for a British licence .

Check what requirements your vehicle needs to meet in the UK .

Find out more about living in the UK

If you want to find out more about life in the UK once you’ve arrived, there’s more detail in the welcome guide for people arriving from Ukraine .

Added information about when someone from Ukraine will automatically pass a residence test.

Change note: Removal of redundant 'Stay up to date' call out.

Added information on double-taxation relief to 'Paying tax in the UK'.

Added links to guidance about the Scottish and Welsh government sponsorship schemes. Updated 'Getting financial help' with more information on available benefits.

Added translation

In 'When you first arrive in the UK': added a link to free travel information for those arriving in Northern Ireland, and updated information about collecting a BRP. In 'Getting healthcare from the National Health Service (NHS)': added links to information on registering with a GP in each devolved administration.

Updated the title to reflect that users may be coming from Ukraine but not be Ukrainian nationals. Updated 'If you have children' with information about applying for 'in-year' school places, and the updated child benefit figures for 2022/23.

Added Ukrainian translation

First published.

Invasion of Ukraine

• UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals
• Move to the UK if you're coming from Ukraine
• Homes for Ukraine: record your interest
• Find out about the UK’s response

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