Ukrainians With Passports Will Now Be Able To Apply For Visa In Government U-Turn

Ukrainian refugees with passports will now be allowed to apply for UK visas online, the government has announced.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said they will be able to use an online process to complete a visa application to the UK's Ukraine Family Scheme.

This means Ukrainians will no longer need to go to a visa application centre to submit their biometrics before arriving in the UK, in turn relieving pressure on visa processing centres.

Speaking in the Commons, Patel told MPs that the changes would come in from Tuesday.

She said: “From Tuesday, I can announce that Ukrainians with passports will no longer need to go to a visa application centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK,” she said.

“Instead, once their application has been considered and appropriate checks completed, they will receive direct notification that they’re eligible for the scheme and can come to the UK.

“In short, Ukrainians with passports will be able to get permission to come here fully online from wherever they are and will be able to give their biometrics once in Britain. This will mean that visa application centres across Europe can focus their efforts on helping Ukrainians without passports.”

Patel added that 'vital security checks will continue in all cases'.

Earlier today, the government also announced that Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich has been added to the UK sanctions list.

The government said he now faces a prohibition on transactions with UK individuals and businesses, a travel ban and transport sanctions.

Abramovich’s one time business partner Oleg Deripaska, who has has stakes in En+ Group, has also been added to the sanctions list, along with Chairman of VTB bank Andrey Kostin, CEO of energy company Gazprom Alexei Miller, president of the Russia state-owned pipeline company Transneft Nikolai Tokarev and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank Rossiya Dmitri Lebedev.

A government press release said: "As part of the UK’s leading efforts to isolate Putin and those around him, these oligarchs – who have a collective net worth of around £15bn – will have their assets in the UK frozen, they are banned from travelling here and no UK citizen or company may do business with them."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin’s vicious assault on Ukraine.

"Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals and illegal occupation of sovereign allies."