Ukrainian refugees - Once again, Brexit Britain makes the EU look weak

UK has granted nearly 2½ times as many visas as France

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2023

If the BBC won’t report this, Facts4EU.Org will – Over 212,000 Ukrainian visas issued

When it comes to Putin’s war, the UK is taking in Ukrainian refugees AND leading Europe’s military effort. The UK has so far approved huge numbers, and 155,500 have arrived so far

The latest data issued yesterday by the Home Office reveals that Brexit Britain has issued nearly 2.5 times more visas to Ukrainian refugees than France has.

Below we show the truth of how Brexit Britain has stepped up in offering a place of refuge for large numbers of Ukrainian refugees from Putin’s war.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

Ukraine Scheme visa applications

UK Home Office data, as at 10 Jan 2023

Over ¼ of a million (259,400) visa applications received by the Home Office
212,600 visas have been issued so far (82%)
Total arrivals of Ukrainian refugees to date : 155,500
Almost 70% of applicants have been female

[Source: UK Home Office, published 13 Jan 2023.]

How does the UK compare to EU countries?

Facts4EU.Org has analysed the latest data from the EU Commission about Ukrainian refugees. Unfortunately it is very incomplete and unreliable, but what follows is based on our best interpretation of the EU’s current published data issued on 11 Jan 2023.

Very few EU countries have provided data on the number of Ukrainian refugees actually in their country. We have better information on the number of visa applications made, but this is also incomplete. By contrast the UK Home Office’s data is impressive. (And it’s not often that we can commend the Home Office.)

The UK’s performance versus comparable EU countries

When comparing the UK’s performance with that of EU countries it’s important to give a meaningful comparison by excluding countries on Ukraine’s doorstep, which naturally received far more applications as hundreds of thousands flooded across their land borders in 2022.

Ukraine has four land borders with the EU: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. Given the demographics of Ukraine, most Ukrainian refugees fled via the northern route: via Poland or in some cases Slovakia. This took many of them on to Germany and Czechia.

Poland has of course shouldered the biggest burden out of all EU countries, taking in some 940,000 Ukrainian refugees. (We have this data for Poland but for few other EU countries.) Having the longest EU land border with Ukraine and a long tradition of absorbing Ukrainian migrants this is unsurprising.

The UK is of course a very long way from the Ukrainian border with the EU. Kiev is more than 2,100km from London (more than 1,500 miles). Given this information, what follows is all the more remarkable.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

Ukrainian visa applications (UK) and ‘Temporary Protection applications’ (EU)

(Excluding EU countries directly bordering Ukraine)

Czechia: 244,650
UK: 212,600
Germany: 188,100
Spain: 153,740
Italy: 146,380
Bulgaria: 144,260
Slovakia: 101,735
Netherlands: 97,995
Romania: 89,630
France: 89,030

[Sources: EU Commission and UK Home Office.]

The UK has granted :-

38% more than Spain
45% more than Italy
117% more than the Netherlands
2.4 times as many as France
2.4 times as many as Austria
3.2 times as many as Ireland
3.5 times as many as Belgium (the EU’s centre)
4.7 times as many as Sweden

[Note: Germany’s information is very incomplete so we have not included it in the list.]

Brexit Britain’s proud record of assisting Ukrainian refugees

During March 2022, the UK Government introduced two new visa routes to allow persons affected by the war in Ukraine to come to the UK. Introduced on 04 March 2022, the Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK.

The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme was introduced on 18 March 2022, and allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

Additionally, from 3 May 2022, the Ukraine Extension Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members to apply for permission to stay in the UK.

Observations

Brexit Britain - a humanitarian AND a military power

Last year the media reported on the UK’s response to President Zelenskyy’s appeal for military aid – something the UK has been providing since Putin’s illegal invasion of Crimea in 2014, almost nine years ago. This contrasts strongly with the EU’s very slow response.

As 2022 went on, parts of the UK media started looking for something on which to criticise the UK and deflect attention away from the EU’s inadequacies. They chose the subject of Ukrainian refugees from the conflict, who are mostly women and children. It was suggested that somehow the UK was not playing its traditional role as a humanitarian nation.

Facts4EU’s report above proves that Brexit Britain has stood up to be counted. Not only has the UK led Europe’s military effort – as confirmed by Ukraine’s President – but it is also playing its part when it comes to providing refuge for Ukrainian families escaping the conflict.

We must get reports like this out there

Reports like the one above take far longer to research, write and produce than many people realise. If they were easy, readers would see other organisations also producing these daily.

However, there’s little point in the Facts4EU.Org team working long hours, seven days-a-week, if we lack the resources to promote them effectively – to the public, to MPs, and to the media. This is where you come in, dear reader.

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[ Sources: UK Home Office | EU Commission (Eurostat) ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Sat 14 Jan 2023

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Reader Comments 15

1. LuxuryBalloon , Saturday, January 14, 2023, 08:55:

I prefer it if the EU deals with the Ukrainian refugee crisis .. and we just supply weapons.

2. Buster , Saturday, January 14, 2023, 09:16:

Why would you exclude countries on Ukraine’s doorstep? After all you lot are the ones who rant about the dinghy people saying they should have stayed in neighbouring countries.
So let’s include neighbouring counties because whenever there is a conflict like this the vast majority always go to neighbouring countries.
Poland alone has taken in literally millions and millions of Ukrainians. Despite having a nasty government, the Polish people have stepped up and proven themselves formidable hosts.
And of course miserable Brexit Britain has taken in more than some other countries in western Ukraine. Language is clearly factor here. More Ukrainians will speak English than speak Dutch or Swedish. This is due to the cultural dominance of the United States which speaks English.
The sad reality is that during the last decade and a bit of Tory Brexitist rule Britain has declined fast. We were a Premier League country when Tony Blair left office and now, thanks to the Brexitists, we are facing relegation to the Vauxhall Conference. It is only when you visit other countries that you learn how far and fast Brexit Britain has declined.

3. Ashley Great Britain , Saturday, January 14, 2023, 09:54:

More very strange comments from Buster.
Of course neighbouring countries would take more, That's why it's fair to exclude them when reporting on Uk-EU Intakes. This is a question on the performance of the bigger players like Germany,Italy,France,Spain.
.
See Buster, There are safe routes into the UK for genuine asylum seekers.
Notice how 70% of them are female, That's because they need the protection while the men stay and fight.
An awful situation for them to be in.
In contrast most "illigal" entrants from Albania are male!?
.
Contrary to what Buster incorrectly spouts, Old white gammons are proud to support these people in genuine need.
And were proud of our nations history in doing so.

4. Sparky , Saturday, January 14, 2023, 10:55:

Deliberately misleading piece. The headline for this piece is "Britain makes the EU look weak" but the report does not include countries bordering Ukraine. But is further misleading as it goes on to criticise the BBC for not reporting the misleading claims, amazing. The hatred that Brexitears have for the EU, BBC and what you call remoaners is staggering, its time to realise that the likes of Johnson, Gove and Farage fed you lies about the EU and the benefits that would come from leaving. (But we do have blue passports)

5. Ashley Great Britain , Saturday, January 14, 2023, 12:09:

4 sparky.
As I said above, It's about the bigger players in the EU compared to Britain.
Look at the report.
Not one of them are taking as many Ukrainians as the UK is and all of them have bigger land masses.
Yes we hate the EU, That's why millions voted against it. Its not hard to understand.

6. Buster , Saturday, January 14, 2023, 13:13:

You didn’t (and still don’t) understand what the EU. You just hated what Farage told you to hate because you are weak minded.
And there aren’t safe routes for most asylum. There was a small scheme for Ukrainians and another for Afghans and everybody else has to risk the dinghy in this nasty government’s war on brown people.

7. Sparky , Saturday, January 14, 2023, 13:18:

The USA concluded that Russia had influenced US elections, the UK Govt wouldn’t investigate Russian influence in the Brexit campaign, they were afraid of the outcome and the Conservatives had Russian bankers. Not only have Brexitears been duped by false promises, the false promises were being influenced by Russia to create division in Europe. Gave them the confidence to invade Ukraine.

8. Paul j , Saturday, January 14, 2023, 16:51:

The UK does everything better than the failing EUSSR.

9. jon livesey , Saturday, January 14, 2023, 17:25:

6. Buster , "You didn’t (and still don’t) understand what the EU." According to you, Buster, the EU is very frightening thing. You have told us many times right here that after the "inevitable" rejoin people will be jailed for their political opinions. You have told us many times that after rejoin there will be an "enquiry" and those who have expressed "Brexitist" views will be punished. Just like good old East Germany. Is that still what you are threatening?

10. jon livesey , Saturday, January 14, 2023, 17:47:

The PM has confirmed that the UK will be sending tanks to Ukraine. Some points. This must have been coordinated with the US and Germany because one country alone sending tanks would be pointless. Next, you don't send tanks if everything is already going swimmingly. Next, you don't send tanks to defend Ukraine - that's what anti-tank weapons are for - but to conduct an offensive. Next, you don't send your tanks to get destroyed, so this is a sign that the best Russian equipment is already junked and their anti-tank technology is ineffecvie. Next, you don't send all your tanks, now or later, so Ukraine has bee told that if they can win the war with X-many tanks, fine, otherwise it's time to negotiate - much like the UK refused to send the remainder of the RAF to France in 1940.
I think this is pretty much a key moment and we will know in a month how things in Ukraine are going to end up.

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