More than 50 Ukrainian orphans arrived in Scotland following a special rescue mission by Hibs charity Dnipro Kids last night.
The children, aged between one and 18, touched down at Edinburgh Airport late on Wednesday night following their flight from Warsaw in Poland, via Heathrow Airport.
A paperwork error delayed their initial flight but the legal hurdle was overcome on Tuesday night meaning a Virgin Atlantic plane was able to leave Heathrow to go collect them.
The children will be kept together and are expected to spend a number of weeks in Callander in Perthshire, before moving to Edinburgh.
Leader of the SNP in the House of Commons, Ian Blackford, hailed the youngsters' arrival and said Scotland would be their home "for as long as they want it to be".
Mr Blackford told the Record: “This is a deeply emotional moment for everyone involved as the Dnipro Kids finally arrive in Scotland, where they will safe, secure and well looked after.
“As delighted as I am to finally see them reach sanctuary in Scotland, we all hope that this will be a temporary stay, and that peace will soon come to Ukraine so they can safely return as they wish.
“Until that time, Scotland is their home for as long as they want it to be. We'll all make sure they have a warm Scots welcome.
“I want to thank again all those involved in making this happen, including the Dnipro Kids charity, the Ukrainian and Polish authorities, the Scottish Government and UK government, Virgin Atlantic, Save a Child, Magen David Adom UK and the many others involved in providing support.”
Last week we told how the group of orphans rescued by Dnipro Kids could come to the UK after authorities in Ukraine granted permission.
Chairman of the Hibs charity Steven Carr managed to evacuate 52 children from Ukraine and get them across the Polish border amid the devastating Russian invasion.
The 55-year-old said children from five orphanages were saved during a 'touch and go' rescue mission, so they can be properly supported in Scotland.
Home Secretary Priti Patel confirmed the flight would go ahead before the charity brought the children to the UK to settle with their new guardians.
The children and their guardians were supposed to leave Poland on Monday, but a vital document from the Ukrainian government was not ready in time.
On Wednesday, a humanitarian relief flight - donated especially for the evacuation by Virgin Atlantic - took the group from Warsaw to London before they travelled onward 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.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also welcomed the children to Scotland and said they would find support here for as long as they need it.
Posting on Twitter, she said: "A warm welcome to Scotland @ DniproKids - I know you’d all rather be at home in Ukraine but you’ll find love, care and support here for as long as you need it."
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