Colchester couple in race against time to help Ukrainians

Khrystyna and Roxi fled from their war-torn home town after Russia invaded and have been holed up across the border in Poland for weeks.

But they face eviction from their shelter property next week when the pair will be thrown out onto the streets of Poland without any income as the arrangements come to an end.

Having been put in touch with the mum and daughter, Sarah Kench and her husband, who live in St John’s, Colchester, are desperate to help.

However, the situation has been tied up in red tape, as Khrystyna awaits a now overdue email confirming she can travel to the UK, meaning she can’t pick up her and Roxi’s visas and flee to safety.

Mrs Kench, who has dressed up her annex for their arrival, says the situation is becoming increasingly more desperate.

Home - the annex

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She said: “Khrystyna has got a baby who is teething and doesn’t have a lot of contact with her husband who is still in Ukraine and has lost his job, so there’s no money coming in.

“She has had real emotional ups and downs, there are days she says to me she feels it’s never going to happen and fears it will lead to her having to return to Ukraine.

“She wants her daughter to be growing up safely. I’ve been constantly trying to reassure her while silently screaming myself.

“They’ve only got one week until they are homeless, so the clock is really, really ticking. I’ve never felt so angry, upset or stressed about something.”

Kind - Sarah Kench

Both the Ukrainian and English pairs are now eagerly anticipating the arrival of the email so Khrystyna and Roxi can head to Warsaw and collect their visas.

Mrs Kench, who has worked in the NHS for 30 years, added: “We would do anything to get the visas pushed through.

“The Government is trying to use a normal visa system in the middle of a war while thousands of refugees try to use it."

The latest data indicates there have been 803 requests from Ukrainians matched with 544 sponsors in the Essex County Council area.

Government figures show about 16,400 people had arrived in the UK under Ukraine visa schemes by Monday.

Less than half of visa applications made under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme have been granted so far.

Witham MP and Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised for the time it is taking to process visas but said the system was improving.