A kind-hearted NHS worker has finally obtained a visa to give a Ukrainian woman safe refuge in the UK.
Diet expert Sarah Ockelton, 33, is opening her home to Nataliya Nikolaienko, 28, who fled her hometown of Sumy on a month ago.
She had been waiting in Poland and also in Germany until her visa was granted. It finally came through after Sarah lobbied Lord Harrington, the Minister for Refugees.
Nataliya, 28, suffers from a degenerative spinal condition. Sarah has prepared a room for her at the home she shares with partner Ashley Waters, 35, a software engineer, in Hull.
She said: "Nataliya left Ukraine on March 15 with a Red Cross convoy, there were 100 buses bringing people out but she had to move around temporary accommodation in Poland then in Germany.
"We finally got her visa on Wednesday and booked a flight into Doncaster airport for this Saturday.
"She can live with her condition but has had no access to physio and has been sleeping on the floor. I am so glad she can finally come to the UK."
Sarah thanked businessman Peter Chernyshov, who headed Kyivstar,
Ukraine's biggest mobile phone company, for his financial support when Nataliya was struggling to find accommodation after fleeing the war.
Sarah is now helping other families bringing Ukrainian refugees into the UK.
