Mayor steps in to help families 'living in limbo'

UKRAINIANS FEAR FOR THEIR FUTURES AS VISAS NEAR THEIR EXPIRY DATE

- GURDIP THANDI

WEST Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has stepped in to try to help Ukrainians who fled their war-torn homeland to stay in the region.

Worried families are now facing uncertain futures as their visas approach their expiry dates and they are anxious the lives they have built here could be shattered.

Mr Parker said he has written to the Government urging it to “show strong leadership” and take decisive action.

He met with Ukrainians who gave an insight into what life has been like since Russia invaded their country in February 2022.

Olga Popova fled Kyiv in February 2022 with her six-year-old son, mother and cat and had to move several times, finding temporary sanctuary in Croatia, before finally moving to Birmingham in August that year.