A group of almost 50 Ukrainian orphans rescued by a Scots charity can come to the UK after authorities in Ukraine granted permission.
Chairman of Hibs charity Dnipro Kids Steven Carr, 55, managed to evacuate 48 children from Ukraine and get them across the Polish border amid the devastating Russian invasion.
The 55-year-old said children 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.
Home Secretary Priti Patel confirmed the flight would go ahead as she made an announcement late on Thursday night: "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."
Steven told the Daily Record that the news comes as a huge relief.
He hopes the children will be able to fly from Poland to London as early as Monday next week before travelling to Edinburgh.
He said: "We are over the moon, it's great news from the Home Office and is a huge relief.
"Thanks to a little nudging from the media as well, we've managed to get it over the line and it's absolutely superb.
"We've had fantastic support all the way through this journey, there are so many people that it's very hard to thank them all but they've been 100 per cent behind getting this done. It's just been phenomenal.
Ahead of the children arriving, the charity has said financial donations are welcome to support them in the coming months and years.
They will also need assistance with excursions, including transport.
He added: "The kids have been superb, they've been resilient throughout this. They are treating it like a big adventure
"I think when we get to London we'll give them a bit more of an adventure before they get a warm Scottish welcome."
Steven travelled to Ukraine at the beginning of March to assess and plan for a possible evacuation of orphanages supported by the charity.
As Russian troops advanced, he feared they would not be able to rescue the children as transport via train and bus became extremely difficult.
But when the volunteers "had almost given up" three of the orphanages managed to board a bus to Lviv.
With the help of Polish bus drivers the team crossed the border into Ukraine and picked up 29 children and five adults.
On their way back to Poland they received another call to say two more orphanages had fled and needed to be picked up.
Steven said: "We had almost given up on an evacuation but then we managed to get three of the orphanages on a bus out of Ukraine.
"While we were doing that we were informed that two other orphanages had managed to get to Lviv.
"So we had to go back in and get them. The bus drivers were absolutely amazing.
"We knew what we had to do and we just went ahead with it."
The evacuation was an emotional moment for the children and the team at Dnipro Kids as they have built a relationship with the small orphanages since the charity was created in 2005.
The Hibs supporters charity was launched after Steven, alongside other supporters, traveled to Dnipro to watch their team in a match against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.
A group decided to do something for one of the local orphanages while they were in the country and the initiative grew from there.
Steven added: "The meet in Ukraine was very, very emotional as we have been a big part of these children's lives for years and because of Covid we hadn't seen them since 2019.
"Given the circumstances it was a very emotional reunion. Once we got them over the border after a six hour wait at border control it was a feeling of sheer relief."
The charity has arranged a support network and accommodation for the children when they arrive in Scotland.
It comes as the first refugees fleeing Ukraine could arrive in Scotland as soon as this weekend.
Nicola Sturgeon announced the news as she told MSPs that Westminster had agreed "in principle" for the Scottish Government to become a super sponsor for those fleeing the war.
Before refugees can arrive in the country, operation details need to be confirmed by the Home Office but Sturgeon hopes the first 3,000 displaced Ukrainians could be here before next week.
She said: "Our aim is that our super sponsor route will run in parallel with the first phase of the wider UK scheme.
"That should make it possible - and that is certainly our hope - for the first 3,000 displaced Ukrainians to arrive in Scotland from as early as this weekend."
SNP Westminster Ian Blackford MP said: "I'm absolutely delighted we've managed to achieve this breakthrough and that, all things being well, Scotland will welcome 48 Ukrainian children and their guardians to safety on Monday.
"While this process has been more difficult than it needed to be, all that matters now is that these children will be in a place of safety and I am pleased beyond words.
"I want to pay tribute to everyone who has worked hard to make this happen including the Scottish charity Dnipro kids, the Ukrainian and Polish authorities, the Scottish Government, Edinburgh City Council, and all those who have helped resolve issues at the Home Office.
"It's essential that the UK Government learns lessons and removes unnecessary barriers and delays to supporting displaced children and families.
"Not all children will be in the position of having guardians and adults to support them, and the Home Office must ensure there are safe, smooth and quick ways for them to access visas and reach safety. It’s far from clear to me how that can happen under the present system."
The Scottish Government has said they welcome the news.
A spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government has engaged with Dnipro Kids, the Ukrainian Government and relevant local authorities to ensure that arrangements are in place to bring these children to Scotland.
“We welcome the fact that the Home Office has now indicated that the children can travel and look forward to welcoming them to Scotland and making sure they feel safe and protected here.”
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