Thousands of refugees expected in UK next week under Homes for Ukraine scheme

A refugee child traces a heart shape on the window of a bus at the Polish border. The UNHCR expects as many as 4 million people to flee Ukraine. Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty

Thousands of Ukrainians are expected to arrive in the UK next week following criticisms of the slow progress of government schemes.

The refugees minister, Richard Harrington, told a parliamentary committee that sponsors who had identified someone who wished to come to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme would be able to apply from 18 March.