A Ukrainian family denied asylum in the United Kingdom was advised by the UK Home Office to relocate within Ukraine and to “look into noise-cancelling headphones” to help their teenage daughter cope with panic attacks triggered by Russian bombing.
The case was reported by Sky News on Thursday, Feb. 26 as part of a broader review of UK asylum decisions involving Ukrainian applicants.
As per Sky News, the Home Office told the family that they could move to what it described as “safe areas” in western Ukraine or to Kyiv, despite ongoing missile and drone attacks across the country.
The rejection letter, seen by the broadcaster, stated: “You could look into noise-cancelling headphones and soundproofing rooms to help with your daughter’s panic attack symptoms” – adding that the possibility of relocation to a non-conflict zone meant her condition did not meet the threshold for asylum.
Declining asylum approvals
About 310,000 Ukrainians were welcomed to the UK under special visa schemes introduced after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme has been extended twice, most recently allowing beneficiaries to remain until September 2028.
However, there is no direct pathway to permanent settlement under those programs, as arrangements were made in coordination with the Ukrainian government, which has expressed the expectation that citizens return after the war.
Immigration lawyers told Sky News that a growing number of asylum claims from Ukrainians have been rejected since April 2025. Home Office data cited by the broadcaster show a sharp decline in approval rates compared with earlier stages of the war.
The Home Office said the Ukraine schemes remain open and continue to provide support.
‘No part of Ukraine is safe’
Families interviewed by Sky News said officials relied on guidance issued in January 2025 that classified parts of western Ukraine as relatively safe.
In its assessment, the Home Office stated that “the humanitarian situation in Ukraine is not so severe that there are substantial grounds for believing that there is a real risk of serious harm.”
Applicants pointed to a November 2025 statement by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which said a deadly aerial attack on Ternopil demonstrated that “no part of the country should be considered safe.”
The family at the center of the report said they had been advised they could relocate to Chernivtsi, Ternopil or Rivne.
The mother, who was not named because the family is appealing the decision, told Sky News that her daughter’s panic attacks resumed after learning of the rejection.
“She understands what is happening,” the mother said. “Since they told her she should go back to Ukraine and just wear noise-cancelling headphones, she has started having panic attacks again.”
The Home Office acknowledged the father’s fear of potential harm if returned but concluded that the family would not face a “real risk” if relocated to western Ukraine or Kyiv.
Calls for settlement pathway
Lawmaker John Milne of the Liberal Democrat party criticized the government’s approach, accusing it of creating uncertainty for families who have built lives in the UK.
He called on UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to establish a clear pathway to settlement for Ukrainians unable to return safely.
“If we stand with Ukraine, that must mean standing with Ukrainians too,” Milne told Sky News.
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme had been extended for an additional 24 months.