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Ukrainian grans arrive in Scotland with grandchildren to escape war-torn country & brand Putin ‘worse than Hitler’
TWO Ukrainian grannies who brought their young relatives to Scotland to escape war have branded evil Vladimir Putin as “worse than Hitler”.
Luba Fitryk, 62, and Olha Starko, 70, touched down in Edinburgh with their two grandchildren in the early hours of this morning after leaving Ukraine for Poland last week.
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The children’s parents - both in the military - stayed behind to help the Ukraine war effort.
But the mum of the children was able to watch on a mobile phone as her loved ones arrived safely in Scotland to be met with other relatives based here.
The family members kissed and hugged during the emotional arrival in the early hours of Thursday.
It’s believed the four were the first to arrive in Scotland from Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his despicable invasion.
Luba said: “I’m very grateful that I can come to Scotland. It has been very scary in Ukraine since the invasion.
“I’m hurting as my husband is still there along with my mother who is 86-years-old and I didn’t want to leave them. But I knew I had to leave and bring my grandchildren to safety.
“The Russians have still not reached my town and I’m hoping that they won’t. It’s really scary - really, really scary.
“Putin is worse than Hitler for doing this. I want to go back but I will stay here until things settle down."
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She added: “It is so nice to see my family that live here in Scotland and I will stay with them until I can go back.”
After leaving their home in Chernivtsi - around 330 miles west of Kiev - last Friday they had to make the 500-mile journey to Warsaw to apply for visas.
On their journey they slept in flats with strangers and one night they had to share a room with seven other people.
After arriving at the visa office they had to queue for 11 hours before they could submit their applications.
Days later they were told they were successful.
Olha spoke of her relief at reaching safety - but also of the despair at what she witnessed and is leaving behind.
'I AM HAPPY TO BE IN EDINBURGH'
She said: “I am happy to be in Edinburgh but I am feeling really sad that the Russians attacked my country. Hospitals have been destroyed and so many people have been killed.
“I have left my son and daughter-in-law behind in Ukraine. Children are being born in air raid shelters and it’s awful.
“I’m glad that I have got my grandchildren to safety and we can be safe here. Compared to other people we have been very lucky.
“The entire journey worked out really well for us and people have been so helpful. As soon as we crossed into Poland people gave us food and looked after us.
“I don’t have any words to describe what Putin is doing as it’s not human to go bombing hospitals and killing innocent people and children.”
It came as Nicola Sturgeon accused Putin of committing war crimes in Ukraine.
How to take in Ukrainian refugees in UK
The First Minister was speaking after Russian forces bombed a hospital in the city of Mariupol which killed three - including a child - and injured 17 others.
At First Minister’s Questions, Ms Sturgeon said she was “horrified and deeply distressed” by the scenes in Ukraine, which has been under assault for two weeks.
“Yesterday’s developments were a new low, a low I believe all of us hoped we would never see - the targeting of children and babies in a maternity hospital,” she said.
“Vladimir Putin is committing, on a daily basis, crimes against international law, he is committing crimes against humanity, he is committing war crimes.
“It is important to do everything that is possible to stop Vladimir Putin, but it is also important to ensure that he pays the severest price for the actions that he is undertaking and the crimes he is committing now.”
Ms Sturgeon’s comments were echoed by other leaders in Holyrood, with Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, describing the Russian President as a “war criminal”.
Scottish Tory leader, Douglas Ross, said: “Yesterday, the tragic events hit a new low, with a children’s hospital reduced to rubble.
“Russians bombed a hospital and they targeted children. Young, innocent lives have been lost in the most despicable and atrocious way.
“It’s hard to express the anger and grief that we all feel at this appalling act.”
Mr Sarwar said: “Vladimir Putin must fail. But let’s also be clear Vladimir Putin is a war criminal and he must face justice.”
They were speaking just hours after the UK Government announced plans to liberalise the visa process for people fleeing Ukraine who seek to come to the UK.
However, the leaders said the changes, which would allow for applications to be made online and supplementary paperwork and biometric checks undertaken when they reach Britain, did not go far enough.
“I welcome the limited movement that we have heard this morning from the Home Secretary,” Ms Sturgeon said.
“I think it needs to go further. I repeat my appeal to the Prime Minister to emulate the example of the Republic of Ireland, (and) of countries across the European Union, to waive visa requirements, to put sanctuary first and paperwork second.”
The First Minister said she would write to the Prime Minister later on Thursday and implored other leaders to sign on to the correspondence.
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Mr Ross said “more, much more” must be done to help refugees, while
Mr Sarwar said: “This goes beyond party politics, this is about people fleeing war and not just seeking sanctuary but home here in Scotland.”
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