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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Julie Delahaye

Eurostar is offering free travel to the UK for Ukrainian refugees

Eurostar is offering free travel to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russia Ukraine war, as Vladimir Putin's onslaught continues.

The high-speed rail service is offering free places on its trains from Europe to the UK, for refugees who are eligible to travel to Britain.

Passengers will simply need to show their passport and a valid visa to a Eurostar staff member at the relevant stations, and will then be issued with a ticket to travel to London.

A statement from the company added: "We are aware that the UK government is regularly reviewing the criteria for Ukrainian refugees to enter the UK, and would strongly recommend Ukrainian nationals contact the British Embassy or check the UK government website for the latest information on visa requirements."

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The United Nations previously said that more than 500,000 people have fled across the border since the invasion began.

Eurostar isn't the only travel company offering support for Ukrainian refugees.

Earlier this week, airline Wizz Air announced that it will offer 100,000 free flights for Ukrainian refugees who are looking to travel from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.

The company also said that it would be offering rescue fares for those "already started moving and may be stranded in other locations".

Ukraine's airspace closed as a result of the invasion, leading to airlines such as Wizz Air and Ryanair suspending routes to and from the country.

The UK also imposed sanctions on Russia which includes a ban on flights from the country's carrier Aeroflot. In retaliation, Russia banned all UK flights in its airspace.

The EU has since announced that, because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian aircraft is banned from operating or entering EU airspace. In most cases, flights that would have gone through Ukraine or Russia airspace have been rerouted rather than cancelled - for those who are due to travel, this could mean longer travel times than anticipated.

Meanwhile, a number of cruise lines have dropped Russia from their itineraries, with companies such as MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Fred. Olsen and P&O Cruises all amending sailings to visit alternative ports of call.

The UK Foreign Office warns: "If you are in Russia, you should be aware that it may not be possible to fly directly to the UK, or via EU countries, and should amend any travel plans accordingly. Check the latest information with your airline or travel provider."

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