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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zoe Delaney

Benedict Cumberbatch offers his home to Ukraine refugees heading to the UK

Benedict Cumberbatch has pledged to do all he can to help Ukrainian refugees - including opening up his home to some.

It's estimated 2.5million people have fled the country since President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to invade their neighbouring country last month.

Following appeals for help as families flee their homes in Kyiv and other major cities, there has been a massive outpouring from people wanting to help out amid the humanitarian crisis - including many famous faces.

Speaking ahead of the 2022 BAFTAs on Sunday night, actor Benedict, 45, said he was standing "side-by-side" with those impacted by the horrifying attacks.

The Imitation Game actor also shared his response to the news the British public will be asked to open their homes to those in need amid the Ukraine refugee crisis, which will be announced on Monday by Michael Gove.

Benedict Cumberbatch has pledged to do all his can to help his European 'brothers and sisters' (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
The actor was speaking about the crisis alongside his wife Sophie Hunter (WireImage)

"It is a really shocking time to be a European two and a half hours flight away from Ukraine, and it’s something that hangs over us," Benedict mused to Sky News outside the Royal Albert Hall.

"This is what I’m trying to do to show that I’m standing side-by-side with my brothers and sisters who are going through this.

"We all need … to do more than wear a badge. We need to donate, we need to pressure our politicians to continue to create some kind of a refugee safety and a haven here for people who are suffering."

Chris Philp discussed the plans to home refugees in the UK on Friday (Katie Pugh)

He added: "Everyone needs to do as much as they can … there’s been a record number of people volunteering to take people into their homes, I hope to be part of that myself."

Benedict - who walked the red carpet with his wife Sophie Hunter - also subtly paid tribute to the people of Ukraine with his outfit choice, thanks to a small pin attached to his suit jacket featuring the colours of the war-torn country's flag.

Benedict wore the flag of Ukraine on the breast of his suit jacket (Grant Buchanan / SplashNews.com)

On Friday, Technology minister Chris Philp said the details of plans to allow Ukrainian refugees to come and stay with British families will be set out "in the very near future".

He told Sky News: "We're going to be making announcements in the very near future about a scheme for UK local authorities, and indeed UK families, to welcome Ukrainian refugees, we've announced that principle and the details of how that scheme works will be laid out in the very near future."

Martin Roberts is currently en-route to the Ukrainian border (martinrobertstv/Instagram)

Benedict isn't the only celebrity pledging to help the people of Ukraine over recent days.

Homes Under The Hammer star Martin Roberts is currently driving a whopping 26 hours to get urgent supplies to the Urkraine/Poland border.

Updating his fans midway through his mammoth journey on Sunday morning, the BBC presenter confessed he feels a "massive responsibility" to deliver the precocious supplies and he hopes to donate to those who have been displaced in the next 24 hours.

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