The government has released data revealing that around 70,000 Ukrainian refugees have been helped to access UK banking services since Putin’s invasion of the country last year.

Refugees fleeing the Russia-Ukraine war have access to basic bank accounts, which allow people with a limited credit history to access everyday banking.

Since 2014, the nine largest UK lenders – Barclays, Co-operative Bank, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest Group, Santander, TSB, and Virgin Money–have been required to provide these accounts.

Following the start of the invasion in February 2022, the government brought together the UK banks to remove any barriers to opening UK bank accounts for Ukrainian nationals, including the lack of a conventional ID.

The UK has so far granted upwards of 215,000 visas to refugees under its Homes for Ukraine and Ukraine Family Schemes.

“We will continue to help as many Ukrainian refugees as possible access the banking services they need to build a life here – and I’d like to thank UK banks and building societies for their support to date,” said economic secretary to the treasury, Andrew Griffith. “A year on from the invasion, Putin should be left in no doubt that the West will not waiver in its support for Ukraine and its people.”

The government has also recently committed to £4.6 billion of military support by the end of the year, including 10,000 anti-tank missiles, almost 200 armoured vehicles, 2,600 anti-structure munitions, and around 100,000 rounds of artillery.

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