Sitting beside Milana, her mother Marina, who now plans to return to Ukraine, said she was relieved her daughter is now in “a safe country and a safe, beautiful house”. She added that the process of getting her to safety, culminating in two days of travelling, had been “difficult”. 

“Milana was desperate to go to a safe place because of continued air raid sirens in Ukraine. Every night you’d hear air raid sirens – at 1am, at 5am, again at 6am,” she said.

Mrs Bennett said she believed that, if she had not got in touch with the press, Milana would still be in Ukraine. “It worries me how many other children are in the same situation where it might be too late,” she added. “It worked out in the end, and I commend [the Home Office] for that. “

She said the lack of communication and clarity had been “frustrating”, adding that a specific scheme should be put in place for unaccompanied Ukrainian children.

A government spokesman said: “The safety and well-being of asylum-seeking children is paramount. Due to safeguarding requirements, unaccompanied minors are not currently eligible for the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.”

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has been approached for comment.