A MARRIED couple from Basingstoke are delighted as they have successfully brought a family fleeing Ukraine home with them to the safety of the UK.

Neil and Maria Pouney have been sponsoring Lera, a young mother and Sonya her one-and-a-half-year-old child who fled Kyiv after their home was bombed following Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

As previously reported earlier this month the pair heard that the youngster and her mother had fallen ill so Maria flew to Warsaw to help look after them but still had to leave them behind due to problems with their visas.

SEE ALSO: 'She and mum were crying': Husband and wife left heartbroken after being unable to  bring Ukrainian family back to the UK

After a long battle the pair have confirmed the Ukrainian family are now safe and sound and living with them in Basingstoke.

Lera has shared her gratitude on Facebook.

She posted: “You know, in this difficult time for Ukraine, I want to write a post about kindness, about the kindness of people.

“When talking with my husband, we began to think about protecting Sofia [Sonya], we decided to start the journey, we knew it was not easy, but there was no time to wait. I had to go to Warsaw in order to apply for a visa for a flight to a British family with whom we had previously contacted and met on Facebook.

"Maria and Neil responded to help us. They are a very good, kind family, they were so worried and wanted to help, that they were ready to pick me up at any time.”

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Lera said she wanted to particularly thank Basya Volodarskay a military chaplain volunteer from Kyiv who ensured she had food and money.

After a long wait the family were finally given approval to fly on Saturday, April 9.

Following her struggles to bring the family to safety Maria said the process is currently "flawed". She reached out to Basingstoke MP Maria Miller, who helped daily with chasing applications. 

Ms Miller said: “It is a herculean task for the Home Office to urgently process visas for many thousands of Ukrainian people who have been offered a place to live in the UK, on top of the work already underway to support those fleeing Afghanistan. I am helping families in Basingstoke to ensure their offer of a home to Ukrainian refugees is taken up as quickly as possible."

Despite this the couple are pleased the family are safe.

Maria added: “It is just really emotional because you really get so invested in the family. Having seen what they have seen and heard what they have heard they just deserve to be safe.”

Although baby Sonya is still unwell she has been able to seek medical advice in the Uk.

Maria continued: “I work for Bewley Homes and whilst they are supporting a family with one of their houses, they have been very supportive and proud of what I am doing. My colleagues are amazing they clubbed together and paid for my flight out on Saturday and to bring my family home I can't thank them enough."

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