Ukrainian girl with panic attacks in the UK Home Office did not extend her asylum and was advised to use noise-canceling headphones
Hosting countries are gradually changing their approaches to Ukrainian refugees, assessing not only the general risks of war but also the specific needs of certain categories of applicants, including children. These changes are reflected in stricter consideration of applications for extension of asylum status and in more detailed verification of the safety of regions for return. An example of this is the case of a Ukrainian girl who, due to panic attacks, was refused asylum in the UK, despite recommendations to ensure safety and minimize stress factors in her environment.
Refusal to extend asylum status and recommendations of the UK Home Office
The UK Home Office rejected a Ukrainian family’s application for an extension of asylum status, justifying its decision by the fact that there are safe regions to live in in western Ukraine. According to Sky News, in their response, officials referred to the condition of the applicants’ daughter, who suffers from panic attacks, and offered an alternative, including moving to Chernivtsi.
At the same time, the family was advised to buy noise-canceling headphones for the child and create soundproofing in the room to reduce the impact of airborne alarms on her psycho-emotional state. The Ministry of Internal Affairs concluded that a change of residence to a region without active hostilities could reduce the frequency of attacks to a level that, in their opinion, is not critical.
Security assessment and international data
The British side’s decision is based on an internal assessment of the humanitarian situation in Ukraine as of January 2025. According to this document, the country does not reach the threshold at which the return of citizens could create an immediate threat of inhuman treatment.
However, the Ukrainian applicants note in their appeals that the official assessments differ from the data of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. A November UNHCR statement said that after one of the strikes on Ternopil, no part of Ukraine could be considered completely safe, which casts doubt on the conclusions of the British authorities.
Statistics of refusals and changes in approaches
Official statistics show that in recent years the number of approved asylum applications for Ukrainian citizens has significantly decreased, although as recently as 2022 the country was receiving large flows of refugees. Government approaches to different categories of migrants vary depending on the political and humanitarian situation.
Czechia Online previously reported that thousands of Afghan refugees were granted asylum in the UK through special government programs that remained invisible to the general public, which indicates different policy dynamics towards different groups of migrants.
The decision by the British Home Office highlights the complexity of defining a safe environment for children who have survived war, as a physically safe area does not always guarantee psychological comfort. For a child suffering from panic attacks, recommendations to use headphones and soundproofing may reduce the impact of external stimuli, but do not eliminate the risks associated with disturbing memories and stressful circumstances. The issue remains critical for families who are forced to balance the demands of host governments with the needs of children who require special attention and protection.
