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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Kaitlin Easton

Dnipro Kids charity chairman 'ecstatic' as 52 Ukrainian orphans arrive in Scotland

The chairman of Hibs charity Dnipro Kids has praised the "phenomenal" effort to get 52 Ukrainian orphans into Scotland.

The children, aged between one and 18, finally arrived in Scotland last night after a paperwork issue postponed their flight earlier in the week and left the charity feeling "deflated".

A Virgin Atlantic plane was allowed to leave Heathrow to collect the group after the legal hurdle was overcome on Tuesday.

They touched down at Edinburgh Airport late on Wednesday night following their flight from Warsaw in Poland, via Heathrow Airport.

Kids rescued by Dnipro Kids waiting to board a flight to the UK (Dnipro Kids)

Speaking to BBC Good Morning Scotland, chairman Steven Carr praised the "phenomenal" response from people across Scotland with football fans from all clubs offering help and support.

"I'm pretty tired but obviously ecstatic they have managed to get this over the line," he said.

"We're finally here, I can relax now.

"Lots of those moments when we doubted that this might happen. It has been a journey of ups and downs but I think every time we had a situation where we thought it's not going to happen, somebody stepped up moved this onto the next stage.

"It has been great and the support has been great. Dnipro Kids that got a fantastic committee that has been working non-stop to make sure that everything is in place for the kids when they arrive. "

Stirling Council has stepped in to help get the kids to safety (Dnipro Kids via Facebook)

He added: "They have obviously been through a very traumatic experience. We need to make sure they are looked after.

"It is all in place - everything that they will need is there ready for them."

"It is heartwarming the response we have had and the effort that has been put in. It has been fantastic."

He confirmed the charity was now in the process of looking at education options and would not be splitting the children up.

The group will spend a number of weeks in Callander in Perthshire, before moving to Edinburgh.

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