Britain and Poland will build two temporary villages in western and central Ukraine to house those displaced by Russia’s invasion, London announced on Tuesday, pledging £10 million ($12.3 million) in funding.
Almost 118,000 Ukrainians have been hosted by British families as part of the government’s response to Russia’s invasion in February 2022, but finding permanent housing is becoming increasingly difficult for some.
The British government said the villages in Lviv, western Ukraine, and Poltava, central Ukraine, would be able to house more than 700 people, a fraction of the millions who have been displaced or fled the country.
“For the past year, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has continued to target civilian homes and infrastructure, with the Ukrainian people bearing the brunt of the consequences,” said British Foreign Minister James Cleverly in a statement.
“This new UK-Poland partnership will help bring light, heat, and shelter to those who need it the most.”
