A UKRAINIAN woman who has been living in Carlisle for 14 years said she is 'grateful' for Britain’s actions in helping the current crisis - but the government’s visa operation could run 'quicker and smoother'.
Alla Stoica, who has parents in central Ukraine and a brother with his wife and son in Kyiv, are all safe for the moment, but as Alla says, 'no-one is completely safe during war'.
Alla’s brother and family moved from Kyiv’s centre once the war entered the city’s outskirts.
"My sister-in-law and nephew are relatively safe for the moment but, they are only 20 to 30 miles away from fighting," she said.
"There in a small village quite far from the main road, hopefully that will not be of any interest for the Russian army."
READ MORE: Ukraine appeal: Newsquest's #ThereWithUkraine campaign reaches £10,000 - how to help
Alla said the British people have been 'incredibly generous and kind' ever since the war broke, however she just wishes that the Government followed a similar process to other European nations in waiving visas for Ukrainian refugees.
"I wish the government did something sooner and made processes easier but I’m generally grateful for what Britain has done for the people of Ukraine.
"It’s very frustrating how long it takes for the visa, obviously ideally, I would like Britain to do it the same as other European countries but if it’s not possible, at the very least they could make the process more straight forward," she said.
Alla applied to get her family a visa on March 18, just in case the situation worsens but, has not heard back as of the time of writing (March 31).
"I’ve applied for my family just in case they need to escape and I’ve yet to hear whether it’s been granted.
READ MORE: Ukraine appeal: Newsquest's #ThereWithUkraine campaign reaches £10,000 - how to help
"The issue is they could have been in more danger than they are or end up stranded in Poland or in limbo having to await an outcome," she said.
Alla hopes to have official confirmation by the end of this week.
She also touched upon the way that Russian state media has described the on-going horrors of the conflict.
She said on February 27, an online newspaper described the bombing of Mariupol as Russian forces having nearly finished their ‘cleansing project’ within the city.
"I can’t put it to words how you feel when you read these things, you see images of Mariupol and there’s not a single building which hasn’t been ruined and then to hear Russians are proud of their work, I don't know what to say," she said.
Alla, with Multi-cultural Cumbria and Polish Shop DINO, sent out 32 to pallets of donations to help the people in their time of crisis last week – of which seven kids from Robert Ferguson Primary School chipped into help, including Alla’s children.
On April 4, another delivery of donations will be making their way out of the UK.
READ MORE: Ukraine appeal: Newsquest's #ThereWithUkraine campaign reaches £10,000 - how to help
READ MORE: Carlisle's Polish shop owner gets goods to Ukraine border
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