Fortrose man "very concerned" as family stuck in Ukraine

A Highland man's terrified as his wife is stuck in war torn Ukraine, after initially going over to see her mother.

Ali MacLennan, from Fortrose, says Elena is currently in a "relatively quiet" part of the country.

However, he's growing increasingly concerned as they expect it's "only a matter of time" before the situation worsens.

He's also unwilling to go to the Home Office due to previous experiences the family had with trying to gain asylum for Elena's son Andrii.

His case was delayed for four years before eventually being rejected.

Russian invasion "last thing you'd expect" in modern Europe

We spoke to Andrii earlier this week, who is still having to hide in his basement as Russian armed forces in air and on land continue to threaten.

Andrii and his wife are currently around 25 miles away from mother Elena and her 93-year-old mother, who are in the city of Poltava.

Elena travelled to Ukraine in January, with husband Ali now desperate to get his family back.

He said: "I'm very concerned, fortunately the area they're in at the moment is relatively quiet, but it's still concerning because obviously I'd like to get them out of there.

"We had thought of trying several ways, but we can't be sure on the security of the routes out.

"It's very difficult to accept because to me the whole thing is so stupid.

"There is absolutely no requirement for this sort of carry on at all.

"In a modern day Europe, it's the last thing you would expect.

"Even though at the moment the area is quiet, as things progress it's just a matter of time before the problems start coming in at a much heavier rate in that area."

Risks with travelling across Ukraine

Due to the current crisis in Ukraine, Ali and Elena have decided the best option is to wait slightly longer in the hope it'll soon be safe enough to travel back to the UK.

Ali added: "It's such a distance to travel across Ukraine to get to a safe area, if something were to happen on the way, with her 93-year-old mother with her, she's going to have a problem.

"For that reason I think she has to stay where she is."

Ali's stepson Andrii waited over four years for the Home Office to decide on his asylum application, only for the UK Government to reject it.

Because he was unable to get a work permit, he eventually couldn't wait any longer and says he had to leave Fortrose for Ukraine last year.

Ali says this previous experience with the Home Office is putting him off contacting them for help.

He said: "The Home Office to me are a total waste of space, I've said it before and I'll say it again.

"They are useless.

"Six years I'm waiting for a reply to my last email, so I can't afford to wait six years for the next one."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We have been working at pace to launch the Ukraine Family Scheme and it is now open for extended family members to apply.

"As well as immediate family members, British nationals and people of any nationality settled in the UK will be supported to bring parents, grandparents, grandchildren, adult children and siblings to the UK.

"An unlimited sponsorship route is also opening soon for Ukrainian’s without family ties here, so communities, local authorities and others can sponsor and support those in need to come to the UK."