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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Sophie Wingate & Kieren Williams

Brit couple trapped in Ukraine war after collecting twins they waited 13 years for

A British couple are stranded in Ukraine after they went to visit a surrogate mother who gave birth to twins they waited 13 years for.

Manisha and Metaish Parmar have described their situation, which should have been one of their most treasured memories meeting with their new twins, as a “living nightmare”.

The couple arrived in the Eastern European country three weeks ago after the surrogate mother gave birth.

However, they are now stuck in Ukraine amid the ongoing Russia invasion, with their newborns, and Mr Parmar’s parents.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Mrs Parmar said: “Things are not good, we can hear explosions going off.

"It's absolutely traumatising, devastating.

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"We're absolutely worried, we don't know what to do. We can't go anywhere, we're just stranded and stuck in Kyiv."

Whilst the family are safe in an apartment, everytime air raid sirens go off they are forced to head for safety in a bomb shelter.

She added: "We thought we would come here, see our newborns being born and have the best moments of our lives - 13 years we've been waiting for this moment.

"And now we're just living this absolute nightmare and we just want to get out."

To make matters worse, to get out, the British Embassy is insisting that they drive 14 hours through a warzone to collect documents to leave.

This is because what the foreign office said is a limited capability to help British nationals in the country.

Talking to Good Morning Britain today, Mrs Parmar said: “In a situation like this, you’d think they’d understand right? And send the emergency travel document electronically in this crisis. But no.”

The British embassy has issued them emergency travel documents, but they are in the western city of Lviv, where they must be picked up.

Mrs Parmar said: "The roads are absolutely jammed and the trains are absolutely jammed too and with four adults and twins, it's impossible."

To make matters worse, there is a 20 litre limit of fuel per person, not enough for the eight hour drive to Lviv, and no taxi will take them either.

Her husband said: "We're pleading with the British Government and the UK embassy to help us get out of this place as soon as possible.

"Tensions are rising, things aren't looking good or sounding good where we are, around us.

"The environment is very stressful and we are obviously scared, we don't know what to expect right now."

Mr Parmar and his father have been heading out “with caution” to a local supermarket for nappies and other baby supplies.

Due to “very limited stock” they grab whatever they can for adults.

The new parents said they are “praying" that their babies will be safe.

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