Robert Rinder has praised 'brilliant' work by a Scots charity to help bring a group of 48 Ukrainian orphans to Scotland.
The TV judge appeared on Lorraine this morning where he detailed his efforts to assist his Strictly dance partner Oksana Platero's family, who have escaped the war-torn country.
Robert has just returned from the Poland/Ukraine border after travelling there to find Oksana's elderly grandparents and provide them with some much-needed support and supplies.
The Strictly star is trapped by work commitments in the USA while war ravages her home country due to Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of the European nation, and the legal expert said it was a 'privilege' to help.
Updating Lorraine viewers on the heartbreaking scenes he witnessed on the frontline, Judge Rinder said he was blown away by the amount of UK citizens he ran into on the border who were out there helping with relief efforts.
The criminal barrister also singled out Scots charity Dnipro Kids, its chairman Steven Carr, and the Scottish Government, for their "amazing" efforts to bring a group of children to safety here in Scotland.
Steven, 55, managed to evacuate 48 children from Ukraine and get them across the Polish border amid the devastating Russian invasion.
It had been touch and go for a while whether or not they would be able to continue on their passage to safety here in the UK due to bureaucratic delays.
The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford raised the group's plight at Prime Minister's Questions this week, and called for deputy PM Dominic Raab to remove the "obstacles" to travel.
Home Secretary Priti Patel confirmed a flight would go ahead as she made an announcement late on Thursday night.
Judge Rinder said the news, and the efforts of Steven and the rest of the team, was "light in the darkness" and an "amazing" story to "focus on".
Hibs fan Steven set up the charity in 2005 after being inspired to help when he travelled with a group of friends to Dnipro for a match.
The 55-year-old has been back and forward to Ukraine over the past month to help get the children to safety.
He said youngsters from five orphanages were saved during a 'touch and go' rescue mission, so they can be properly supported in Scotland.
The charity plans to bring the children to Scotland on Monday to settle with their new guardians.
They will be housed in Callander, Perthshire, for two to three weeks before longer term accommodation can be found in Edinburgh.
The charity is hoping to arrange a flight to Stanstead before transporting them north of the border after missing a deadline to arrange a flight to the UK today.
Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, who has lobbied the UK government to grant the orphans visas, will travel to Poland on the Virgin Atlantic flight and return with the orphans.
Judge Rinder also spoke about his relief to find his Strictly co-star's elderly family and called on the UK Government to stop their "Dad's Army" tactics and start ensuring the correct procedures are in place at the Ukrainian borders to help people come to safety in the UK.
He said: "I’m afraid to say it's a bit Dad's Army just now, no desk in the reception centre so it's all very well the British Public saying they will house refugees, but when I was in Krakow there was no desk for people to go to.
"This isn't a political statement, I'm just saying when people arrive at the reception centres, they need to make sure there is a big desk there with people to help them fill out the paperwork."
On Wednesday, Judge Rinder revealed that he had finally managed to track down Oksana’s grandmother and aunt who have been displaced by the war.
Sharing photos via Instagram of his tearful meeting with his dance partner’s family members, Rob wrote: “Oksana’s family: Auntie Lidya and Grandma Zoya.
“We managed to reach them this morning with a wheelchair & some medical supplies.. Despite having nearly nothing.. they are ‘grateful for everything’.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel confirmed on Thursday night that the Dinipro orphans have been cleared to come to the UK.
She said: "It is deeply troubling that children from the charity Dnipro Kids have been caught up in Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine. I have been working directly with the Ukrainian government and asked for their permission to bring these children to the UK.
"I am extremely grateful to the authorities in Ukraine, who have now confirmed to me that the children can come here.
"We are working urgently with Poland to ensure the children's swift arrival to the UK."
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