A UKRAINIAN family bound for Weymouth who have been “stranded by bureaucracy” in Central Europe are so frustrated with visa delays that they’re considering returning to the war zone.

With delays in receiving their approved visas entering a third week they have become disheartened to the extent that they are contemplating a return to their home city of Kharkiv.

The city, on Ukraine's battered eastern front line, has been under enemy bombardment since the war first begun in February.

As reported, Alina Filipenko and her two sons Oleksandr and Mykhailo, fled Kharkiv in early March and are sponsored by Paul Whittle from Weymouth.

Visa applications were submitted on April 21 but as Mykhailo, five, was travelling on a birth certificate the family were required to supply biometrics at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Budapest.

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Alina, 34, and Oleksandr, 12, had their visas approved on May 10 whilst, after delays, the Home Office confirmed Mykhailo's visa was approved on May 18 and that all the paperwork would be available to collect within 48 hours.

When the family arrived at the VAC on May 26 they were told that the applications had not been updated on the system and was unable to be issued.

The family have already relocated within Budapest on five occasions with their right to remain in Hungary officially expiring on May 25.

Faced with the prospect of moving once again, Paul said the family are seriously considering a return to the war zone.

He said: "We heard this week from Lana, who is a Russian speaker from Portland that keeps us in touch, who said that Alina was so depressed she was thinking of taking the boys back to Ukraine and packing it all in. Lana speaks to them every day and they're just so distraught with the whole situation: their visas have been approved, that's not the issue, but they just can't get hold of them. Alina is weeping every day because of the frustration and the worry. They're being passed around from pillar to post and I've never known any system to be so obstructive."

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A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: “60,100 Ukrainians have now arrived safely in the UK through our Ukraine Schemes – we are doing all we can to support new arrivals into work and education so they can create a life here and we look forward to welcoming thousands more people.

“Together our uncapped Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine routes are amongst the fastest and biggest visa schemes in UK history. 115,000 visas have now been issued showing the work we’ve done to speed up the process is working and improving daily.”