A MOTHER and daughter who fled Ukraine as the war started have still not been able to enter the UK and reach friends in Powys. 

Alena Semenova, 22, and Tetyana Tsybanyuk, 40, from Kyiv, escaped the conflict and drove over 1,500 miles to a ferry port in Calais only to be told they could not make the crossing without a visa. 

Their UK visa application is tied up in bureaucracy and red tape and its claimed they had originally been told to apply through the Ukrainian family scheme, with the Home Office’s blessing despite them having only friends in the UK, to then be told their application could not be considered. 

The County Times and The National reported on March 7 how the pair had been left in limbo in France having been turned back from a ferry crossing as they hoped to reach Ms Semenova’s godparents Graham and Alla Blackledge, who live in Glasbury-on-Wye, between Hay-on-Wye and Brecon. 

But more than two weeks on the mother and daughter remain in France and Mr Blackledge said they have been told, by the French authorities, they must leave their accommodation in Paris this weekend and move to Bordeaux. 

As they have submitted a visa application Ms Semenova and her mother also do not currently have their passports which are with the British authorities in France. 

Frustratingly they are awaiting the outcome of their application, which Mr Blackledge said he has been told has been prioritised, but with no indication of when they will be able to cross the channel. 

“This situation should have been escalated right at the start but nothing has been done,” said Mr Blackledge. 

Following widespread coverage after their story was first reported by The National Mr Blackledge said he was contacted by the Home Office’s visa application centre and advised they could apply through the Ukrainian family scheme, the only route recognised by the UK Government at the time. 

Mr Blackledge said he made it clear the pair are not related to him or his wife, and said that was acknowledged by the Home Office, but he was told they could make an application due to “extenuating circumstances”. 

However Mr Blackledge said he was then contacted by telephone on March 15 and told the application couldn’t be processed. 

“I was informed the application couldn’t be considered under the family visa route even though I had an email from them (the Home Office) telling me to apply in this way due to special or extenuating circumstances.” 

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Mr Blackledge said he has since been in contact with the office of Brecon and Radnorshire Conservative MP Fay Jones and he understands she has raised the case with a minister and it has been escalated but there is still no clarity on when a visa will be approved. 

He has also been told the Home Office has now internally moved the application from the family route to the other visa schemes it has since opened. 

However as it stands Ms Semenova and her mother are expected to leave Paris and travel to Bordeaux this Sunday. 

Mr Blackledge said medical student Ms Semenova has been writing to UK universities to try and find out how she can continue with her studies. 

“She was about to start training in hospital in Ukraine. Her mother has given up everything to support her daughter through medical school in Ukraine and that has all been ripped away. 

“They are just losing the will. 

“I believe the British government are making it so difficult (to apply) so that people will just give up as they don’t want them to come here. 

“It is not right what is happening, these are people who have fled with bombs cascading around their homes.” 

The Home Office has been asked to comment. 

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