THOUSANDS of non-Ukrainians have reportedly been granted visas to live in the UK under a refugee scheme designed for those fleeing the war.
New figures revealed by The Telegraph show the Government’s Ukrainian visa programme has handed out nearly 3,500 travel documents to people from 112 different countries.
Those getting the green light include migrants from Afghanistan, Nigeria, Iraq, Iran, India, and the Palestinian territories.
The schemes were launched to help people escaping Vladimir Putin’s invasion, but non-Ukrainians are eligible if they are family members of a Ukrainian national.
Applicants can come to Britain if they have relatives already here or if a British host offers them a room under the Homes for Ukraine programme.
The rules were brought in by the last Tory government and have been kept by Labour as the war enters its fifth year.
Data from the Home Office shows that 3,464 visas were given to non-Ukrainians, which represents one in every 80 visas granted under the scheme.
Russians account for the biggest number of non-Ukrainian nationals to have come to the UK under the visa scheme at 588.
They are followed by 408 Nigerians, 294 Afghans, 161 Iraqis, 152 Moldovans, 149 Turks, 124 Indians, 107 Belarusians, 107 Iranians and 106 Egyptians.
Other migrants coming to Britain under the visas have included 81 Ghanaians, 65 Syrians, 34 Libyans, 27 Palestinians, 18 Vietnamese, 17 Yemenis, seven Chileans and three Argentines.
It follows a separate case revealed last year where a family of Palestinians fleeing the Gaza war won an immigration court ruling to use the scheme.
They argued their circumstances were so exceptional they should be allowed to live with the father’s brother in the UK because there was no other way for them to get refuge.
The ruling was overturned by Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, on appeal.
The latest figures revealed have prompted a political backlash.
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s Home Office spokesman, scathed the UK has “lost control” of its borders.
He said: “It is astonishing that Tory and Labour betrayal means the Ukraine refugee scheme has been used to import Afghans, Russians, Nigerians and Iraqis.
“Britain has totally lost control of its borders. Reform will end this madness and deport all those here illegally.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the scheme is for “Ukrainians, not Afghans and Iraqis”.
He said: “The Government should not be allowing non-Ukrainians into the UK under the Ukrainian visa scheme. It is supposed to be for Ukrainians, not Afghans and Iraqis.
“The recent court case is also disgraceful. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was abused by a judge to allow the Ukrainian scheme to be twisted into a route for Palestinians to come to the UK.
“In that case, the Palestinians concerned were in fact in Egypt, so not even at any risk.
“This is further evidence that we need to leave the ECHR, which is what will happen if we have a Conservative government and I become home secretary.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “The Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme is primarily for Ukrainian nationals.
“Third country nationals can only be eligible if they apply as part of a family group which must include an immediate family member who is a Ukrainian national, and they must apply at the same time.
“The Ukraine schemes remain temporary, in line with the Ukrainian government’s strong desire for the future return of its citizens, and do not lead to settlement.”
