More than 50 Ukrainian orphans are due to arrive in Scotland tonight after a special rescue mission by Hibs charity Dnipro Kids.
The children, aged between one and 18, are currently waiting in Warsaw, Poland, after a paperwork error delayed their initial flight.
The legal hurdle was overcome on Tuesday night meaning a Virgin Atlantic plane was able to leave Heathrow Airport this afternoon to go collect them.
Leader of the SNP in the House of Commons, Ian Blackford, announced the news during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
He said: “In a matter of seconds at 12.16pm, a Virgin Atlantic aircraft is due to depart Heathrow Airport to go to Warsaw to pick up 50 young orphans that have left Ukraine.
“They are coming to spend the next period of their life in Scotland with the sanctuary that we can offer them.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has helped to make sure that we can offer a new start to these young people away from the war.
“In particular, the governments in London and in Edinburgh. And in particular to thank the immigration minister, the member for Torbay and the refugee minister in the House of Lords, Lord Harrington.
“This is a good day for these 50 young people but let’s hope that it's the beginning of something much more significant for many more young people that we can offer sanctuary to.”
He then tweeted: “I am absolutely delighted to say the flight we have arranged for the Dnipro Kids will soon depart for Warsaw, to collect them and their carers and bring them all safely to Scotland.
“The return flight will be later this evening and they will then travel straight to Callander.”
The children will be kept together and are expected to spend a number of weeks in Callander, Perthshire, before moving to Edinburgh.
Since the request came in from Dnipro Kids, council staff have been working with NHS Forth Valley and Police Scotland, along with volunteers from local businesses, to ensure the facility in Callander is ready to welcome the children and that local support is in place.
Stirling Council Chief Executive Carol Beattie said: "Dnipro Kids approached us asking for support and our staff responded quickly to help make sure the children have what they need.
"The suffering faced by innocent families and communities is heartbreaking to witness and we are prepared to do whatever we can to help them.”
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