Ukraine’s Consul General in Scotland has warned Nicola Sturgeon that war refugees should not be left to languish on a cruise ship in rooms smaller than a prison cell.
The Scottish Government has hired the MS Victoria to shelter those fleeing the Russian invasion after it suspended its flagship ‘super sponsorship scheme’ earlier this week.
The ship, which is currently docked in Leith, has 739 staterooms measuring 86 sq ft, each of which can accommodate up to four people – leaving just 21 sq ft per person at full capacity.
But Yevgeny Mankovsky, Ukraine’s consul general in Edinburgh, told The Telegraph: “I don’t want people to live six months on the ship, nobody wants that.”
Mr Mankowski revealed he only heard of Ms Sturgeon’s last-minute decision on Monday, the day it was announced to the public. He plans to inspect the ship next week.
“I hope people don’t stay on the ship too long”
While he insisted he would reserve full judgment until he saw the cabins for himself, he suggested he would hold the First Minister to account if conditions were not up to par.
He said: “I can’t say I was shocked that the Scottish Government took this decision.
“Let’s see, let’s give them a chance and see how it works because we need to see what people are going to say about it.
“If we’re getting more and more negative comments about it, negative feedback, then we can discuss something with the Scottish Government, if that’s the case, people aren’t happy about it, maybe we need to change something.”
“Hopefully people won’t stay on the ship too long, we’ll see.”
Asked what was the most important thing the Scottish and British governments could do to help Ukraine, he said: “Missiles, bombs, heavy weapons.
“That’s all the UK has given us, we really appreciate that, we’re grateful for the support, but we need more.”
Last month Kate Forbes, Ms Sturgeon’s finance secretary, said no more of Scotland’s money should be given to Ukraine for arms after handing over a potential final payment of £65m to the Treasury.
Mr Mankowski also said “too many” Ukrainian refugees were staying in hotels, with some forced to rely on food banks to have three square meals a day.
Overwhelmed with applications
Up to 10,000 Ukrainians are believed to have arrived in Scotland since Russia invaded in February.
The First Minister previously insisted her nation would welcome an “unlimited” number of refugees “wrapped in a warm Scottish welcome”.
However, the Scottish Government announced on July 11 that it would suspend its sponsorship scheme for a minimum of three months after being inundated with applications.
MS Victoria has been chartered for six months and is currently moored next to Royal Yacht Britannia after arriving from Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, where she was also used to house refugees.
Mr Mankowski emphasized that the ship would not be a “prison” for those living there, but admitted that it “wouldn’t be good” if the living space per person reached 43 sq ft per person.
Single prison cells in Scotland are at least 75 sq ft and in shared cells the rules state that there must be at least 48 sq ft for each prisoner.
A Scottish Government spokesman said the welfare of all displaced Ukrainians “remains our absolute priority” and said they agreed with Mr Mankowski that they should not spend “more time in temporary accommodation than is absolutely necessary”.
The spokesman added: “The ship will offer displaced people safe accommodation, along with restaurants, children’s play facilities, shops and common areas.
“Families will be accommodated according to their needs, as has been the case in other temporary accommodation.”
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