the all—encompassing burqa. the move has been met with dismay by women's rights campaigners. now, bbc wales investigates: families fleeing war. we've all witnessed the horrors of war and fold in ukraine. my friend from — of war and fold in ukraine. ij�*i friend from school, of war and fold in ukraine. m: friend from school, their apartment was destroyed. her friend is finding _ apartment was destroyed. her friend is finding out with her children amongst the ruins of mariupol. . will they make it out to the safety of friends in wales? those with loved ones there are desperate to bring them here. there are desperate to bring them here-— there are desperate to bring them here. keep trying, keep t inc. them here. keep trying, keep trying- how— them here. keep trying, keep trying. how many _ them here. keep trying, keep trying. how many times - them here. keep trying, keep trying. how many times do i i trying. how many times do i try? — trying. how many times do i t ? a trying. how many times do i t ? �* , ., , trying. how many times do i try? as thousands offer their homes, try? as thousands offer their homes. are _ try? as thousands offer their homes, are too _ try? as thousands offer their homes, are too many - try? as thousands offer their homes, are too many still. homes, are too many still waiting? it's been a long journey for the roberts family. from ukraine to north wales. it's taken weeks and thousands of miles. this man and his wife went to rescue her daughter and granddaughter. to bring them back. now refugees, they know they're amongst the lucky ones. how are you? flat they're amongst the lucky ones. how are you?— how are you? not well. terrible. _ how are you? not well. terrible. russians - how are you? not well. | terrible. russians would how are you? not well. - terrible. russians would not kill children. sorry. she wants to tell her— kill children. sorry. she wants to tell her dad _ kill children. sorry. she wants to tell her dad that _ kill children. sorry. she wants to tell her dad that she's - to tell her dad that she's alive. ukrainian men have been asked to stay behind to help defend the country. suddenly, there another siren. in your home? apartment. also in street- _ in your home? apartment. also in street. bomb _ in your home? apartment. also in street. bomb warnings - in your home? apartment. also in street. bomb warnings are i in street. bomb warnings are broadcast — in street. bomb warnings are broadcast in _ in street. bomb warnings are broadcast in tv _ in street. bomb warnings are broadcast in tv to _ in street. bomb warnings are broadcast in tv to warn - in street. bomb warnings are broadcast in tv to warn of i broadcast in tv to warn of incoming attacks. it's a far cry from their old life in the country they've left behind. the couple run their own property business. she dreamt of becoming a lawyer. life was good until war came. as the russians invaded, they took their dog and a few belongings before leaving and heading for wales. a last kiss from her dad. she doesn't know when she'll hug him again. millions have headed out of ukraine in search of safety. angelina and albina had to drive across the country and over the border to slovakia to apply for visas to allow them to come to wales as refugees. the uk government has promised to open doors and give sanctuary to people fleeing ukraine, but the families we've been following feel that the visa system is anything but straightforward. i'm going to see a welsh ukrainianfamily i'm going to see a welsh ukrainian family who settled here. they have friends and family trapped in ukraine. natalia, from kyiv, married a man from north wells. they're raising their young son and daughter here. , , ., ._ , here. they started saying, is an bod here. they started saying, is anybody coming _ here. they started saying, is anybody coming to _ here. they started saying, is anybody coming to help i here. they started saying, is anybody coming to help us? | anybody coming to help us? there was nobody coming. she just wanted to say goodbye. nataliia's mother and stepfather live in eastern ukraine, which is seen amongst the worst bombardments. as things escalated, nataliia begged them to come to wales. thousands were fleeing the region. to thousands were fleeing the reuion. ., ., thousands were fleeing the re.ion_ ., ., ., , thousands were fleeing the reuion. ., ., ., , ., ., region. to do that, they had to leave her— region. to do that, they had to leave her elderly _ leave her elderly grandparents behind. my grandfather looking after my grandmother now. she my grandfather looking after my grandmother now.— my grandfather looking after my grandmother now. she can't feed ourself. grandmother now. she can't feed yourself- can't— grandmother now. she can't feed yourself. can't get _ grandmother now. she can't feed yourself. can't get up _ grandmother now. she can't feed yourself. can't get up on - grandmother now. she can't feed yourself. can't get up on her- yourself. can't get up on her own — it was a very hard decision for my mother_ it was a very hard decision for my mother to leave him there. very, _ my mother to leave him there. very, very— my mother to leave him there. very, very hard. not my mother to leave him there. very. very hard-— my mother to leave him there. very, very hard. not knowing if or when they — very, very hard. not knowing if or when they return, _ very, very hard. not knowing if or when they return, they i or when they return, they boarded a train.— or when they return, they boarded a train. the train was so full. boarded a train. the train was so full- their _ boarded a train. the train was so full. they just _ boarded a train. the train was so full. they just closed i boarded a train. the train was so full. they just closed the l so full. theyjust closed the doors _ so full. theyjust closed the doors i_ so full. theyjust closed the doors. i called mum and she said — doors. i called mum and she said they— doors. i called mum and she said they are all in.- said they are all in. half an hour later... _ said they are all in. half an hour later... they're i said they are all in. half an hour later... they're still i hour later... they're still here. hour later... they're still here- she _ hour later... they're still here. she said _ hour later... they're still here. she said because l hour later... they're still i here. she said because people are just — here. she said because people are just going under the train, and if— are just going under the train, and if we _ are just going under the train, and if we have to die, better here — and if we have to die, better here tharr— and if we have to die, better here than from russian army. pure — here than from russian army. pure desperation.— pure desperation. they were headina pure desperation. they were heading for _ pure desperation. they were heading for warsaw, - pure desperation. they were heading for warsaw, where i heading for warsaw, where nataliia and the family went to wait for them. finally, they spot them. she laughs these women were able to come to wales, but to stay, they have to apply for refugee status. ., , how is it to have mum here? it feels good. you feel guilty because my grandparents are still in — because my grandparents are still in ukraine.— still in ukraine. nataliia is also desperately - still in ukraine. nataliia is also desperately waiting l still in ukraine. nataliia is. also desperately waiting for news from one of her closest friends. she's trapped in mariupol with her three young daughters. i mariupol with her three young daughters-_ daughters. i “ust sold the video which i daughters. ijust sold the video which my _ daughters. ijust sold the video which my friend i daughters. i just sold the | video which my friend sent daughters. i just sold the i video which my friend sent to me — video which my friend sent to me the _ video which my friend sent to me. the bombing and shooting at night _ me. the bombing and shooting at night she — me. the bombing and shooting at night. she took that video and ran to — night. she took that video and ran to hide. ina communal in a communal bunker, julia tries to distract the girls from the horrors unfolding above them. they seen in ukrainian. they sing in ukrainian. they're hiding amongst these ruins in their own city, which is under relentless attack. julia has been keeping a video diary. it's hard to explain war to a child. is not safe anywhere in ukraine at the moment, but there is so dangerous. all the shops were destroyed. they had no supplies and i ran out of food at some point. would it start to rain, they were able to drink for the puddle. nataliia is trying to find a way to bring them through the ukrainesponsorship team. her husband is fighting on the front line. and as they head, their home was hit. julia went back to film the destruction. they'd lost everything.— lost everything. their apartment _ lost everything. their apartment was i lost everything. their i apartment was destroyed. totally— apartment was destroyed. totally destroyed. they were sleeping when shooting happened. are theyjust going die there? happened. are they “ust going are magi die there? nataliia was trying to find the — die there? nataliia was trying to find the fastest _ die there? nataliia was trying to find the fastest route i die there? nataliia was trying to find the fastest route out | to find the fastest route out of ukraine forjulia and the girls. it had taken weeks for these two to rescue their loved one. in march, i travelled from them across europe to slovakia to look for their family. we had to a refugee crossing point to look for angelina and albina. ., point to look for angelina and albina.- hello! - point to look for angelina and albina. ., hello! , next morning, still in slovakia, this man has to begin organising visas to bring them to wales. and he says it's already proving difficult. i’m already proving difficult. i'm in a situation _ already proving difficult. in in a situation where i made an application several days ago. but ijust simply application several days ago. but i just simply could application several days ago. but ijust simply could not get an appointment, and they said keep trying, keep trying. how many times do i try?- keep trying, keep trying. how many times do i try? albina is missin: many times do i try? albina is missing her — many times do i try? albina is missing her dad. _ albina and her mum may not be in danger, but they are in limbo until they can get visas. natalia's mum and stepdad are exploring their new surroundings. how did you cope with that decision? she's heartbroken and feels like she _ she's heartbroken and feels like she betrayed him. she's going — like she betrayed him. she's going to _ like she betrayed him. she's going to explain him... while we're filming, _ going to explain him... while we're filming, there's - going to explain him... while we're filming, there's a i going to explain him... while we're filming, there's a call. | we're filming, there's a call. it's julia, who's we're filming, there's a call. it'sjulia, who's been tracked in mariupol. it's nice to see you. i am so glad that you are safe. it's the first time she's been able to call in weeks.— to call in weeks. she's in a basement. _ to call in weeks. she's in a basement. there - to call in weeks. she's in a basement. there was i to call in weeks. she's in a basement. there was no l to call in weeks. she's in a i basement. there was no shower, no toilets, — basement. there was no shower, no toilets, no electricity. they— no toilets, no electricity. they had some food. somebody was stealing from supermarkets and giving to them. the kids were asking for food so much _ the kids were asking for food so much. they feel bad... julia's video diaries and show things are going from bad to worse for her and the girl. her middle daughter had become ill. julia has to leave the children while she looks for water amongst the ruins. but it's the sights of war which are leaving their mark on them. ,, ._ ., which are leaving their mark on them. ,, ., , them. she did say that people in mariunol— them. she did say that people in mariupol were _ them. she did say that people in mariupol were killed - them. she did say that people in mariupolwere killed by- in mariupol were killed by rockets _ in mariupol were killed by rockets. they had no hands, no legs, _ rockets. they had no hands, no legs, their— rockets. they had no hands, no legs, their bodies were destroyed. feel sorry that she couldn't bury them because she 'ust couldn't bury them because she just turned around and left. julia — just turned around and left. julia left _ just turned around and left. julia left mariupol when a julia left mariupol when a humanitarian corridor was offered by the russians. 50. offered by the russians. so, they started _ offered by the russians. so, they started to _ offered by the russians. so, they started to move out of the city, _ they started to move out of the city, and — they started to move out of the city, and city wasjust destroyed. the driver who lived there _ destroyed. the driver who lived there couldn't recognise her to lo. there couldn't recognise her to do he — there couldn't recognise her to go. he didn't know which way to go because everything was destroyed. they managed to board or train heading west to escape ukraine. they'll have to build a new life. nataliia wants to help them do that in wales. it would be a warm welcome for you here. she translates. her ukrainian children have been displaced by this war. garris and family are stuck in europe, staying in hotels and with friends because they haven't been able to sort out the visas. they've made it to prague. the visas. they've made it to prarue. , , , prague. this country is ukraine- _ prague. this country is ukraine. are _ prague. this country is ukraine. are you i prague. this country is ukraine. are you still. prague. this country is i ukraine. are you still having school? are _ ukraine. are you still having school? are your— ukraine. are you still having school? are your friends i ukraine. are you still having i school? are your friends online as well? ., , . ., ,, ., , as well? one of my classmates in poland- _ as well? one of my classmates in poland. and _ as well? one of my classmates in poland. and one _ as well? one of my classmates in poland. and one classmate i as well? one of my classmates| in poland. and one classmate in france. ., in poland. and one classmate in france. . , ., france. gareth, where are you at now with — france. gareth, where are you at now with the _ france. gareth, where are you at now with the visas? - france. gareth, where are you at now with the visas? it i at now with the visas? it wasn't easily. i went to the british— wasn't easily. i went to the british indices and they said i had to— british indices and they said i had to go— british indices and they said i had to go online —— british embassy _ had to go online —— british embassy. we had to scam and upload — embassy. we had to scam and upload documents. we must get approval— upload documents. we must get approval before we try to enter the uk — approval before we try to enter the uk. but because we got some contacts_ the uk. but because we got some contacts here, we're in a better— contacts here, we're in a better position than the majority. better position than the majority-— better position than the ma'ori .�* , . ., ., better position than the ma'ori . �* , . ., ., majority. albina, what do you think of all — majority. albina, what do you think of all this? _ majority. albina, what do you think of all this? i _ majority. albina, what do you think of all this? i want i majority. albina, what do you think of all this? i want to i majority. albina, what do you think of all this? i want to be | think of all this? i want to be the because _ think of all this? i want to be the because i— think of all this? i want to be the because i want _ think of all this? i want to be the because i want to - think of all this? i want to be the because i want to visit i think of all this? i want to be j the because i want to visit us now. —— i want to bees as. aha, now. —— i want to bees as. a few days later, there's news. visa! , , ,, , , , visa! oh, yes! super, super, su er! visa! oh, yes! super, super, super! gareth _ visa! oh, yes! super, super, super! gareth could - visa! oh, yes! super, super, super! gareth could finally i super! gareth could finally brina super! gareth could finally bring his _ super! gareth could finally bring his family _ super! gareth could finally bring his family home i super! gareth could finally bring his family home 21. i super! gareth could finally i bring his family home 21. -- bring his family home 21. —— two wales. bring his family home 21. -- two wales-— bring his family home 21. -- two wales.- more i bring his family home 21. -- i two wales.- more than two wales. by, frog! more than 70% were _ two wales. by, frog! more than 70% were still _ two wales. by, frog! more than 70% were still waiting - two wales. by, frog! more than 70% were still waiting for i two wales. by, frog! more than 70% were still waiting for the l 70% were still waiting for the visas. nataliia's mum and stepdad are setting in, but officially, they are still tourist and not yet refugees. without this visa, they cannot work. it's difficult now because they are proud people, they feel like they're a burden. they feel like they're a burden-— they feel like they're a burden. , , . ., burden. until they become refugees. _ burden. until they become refugees, they _ burden. until they become refugees, they face - refugees, they face restrictions of. they can't register- _ restrictions of. they can't register. they _ restrictions of. they can't register. they can't i restrictions of. they can't register. they can't do i register. they can't do anything. in march, 10,000 people across wales were offering to house ukrainian refugees, but with millions of people pouring over the border, by the end of last month, the home office had only issued 2300 visas. when we asked them how many ukrainian refugees had actually arrived here in wales, the welsh government couldn't tell us. they insist they have asked for the data, but have been told it's unavailable. the home office told us it's working as 0ffice told us it's working as fast as it can to provide that information. gareth's family are getting to know their way around. mr; are getting to know their way around. ~ , ., , are getting to know their way around. g ., , ., around. my mother, my daughter, m name around. my mother, my daughter, my name is _ around. my mother, my daughter, my name is angelina. _ around. my mother, my daughter, my name is angelina. it's - around. my mother, my daughter, my name is angelina. it's blue i my name is angelina. it's blue and yellow. — my name is angelina. it's blue and yellow, ukrainian - my name is angelina. it's blue and yellow, ukrainian colours| and yellow, ukrainian colours of. �* , ., and yellow, ukrainian colours of. m ., and yellow, ukrainian colours of. albina has a medical condition _ of. albina has a medical condition that _ of. albina has a medical condition that requires i condition that requires treatment, she hasn't had it due to the war. gareth is trying to register them with a local surgery. next, they apply for a place at the local school.— the local school. current school- _ the local school. current school. how— the local school. current school. how are - the local school. current school. how are you i the local school. current i school. how are you feeling about going _ school. how are you feeling about going to _ school. how are you feeling about going to a _ school. how are you feeling about going to a new i school. how are you feeling i about going to a new school? i'm happy, but little nervous. 0f i'm happy, but little nervous. of course you're nervous. i not very well— of course you're nervous. i not very well know — of course you're nervous. i not very well know english. - of course you're nervous. i not very well know english. your . very well know english. your children, your classmates? things are settling for albina's family, but for many others, they're —— there's still confusion and delays when it comes to getting the right visa. the home office told us that more than 86,000 visas have been granted under various schemes. it's simply finding the forms and boosting staff members so that applications can be processed more quickly. nataliia has been hoping that julia and her girls can come to north wales as refugees. after escaping by train, they managed to board with others to cross the border to safety in poland. hello, julia! how are the children, how are your daughters? are they happy, are they well? they want to come to wales, but julia has to sort of official paperwork. this family has found sanctuary, but so many others are still searching for it. it's albina's first day at her new school. english, welsh, not easy! is a roud english, welsh, not easy! is a proud day _ english, welsh, not easy! is a proud day for _ english, welsh, not easy! is a proud day for her _ english, welsh, not easy! is a proud day for her mum. fantastic. before, i nervous, but when i visit the school, i happy. nataliia's mum and stepdad have finally given permission to stay in wales as refugees. but julia and the girls haven't yet made it. they're still in poland, where she's been given a home, found a job and the girls are in school. i would love to have her here. i would love to have her here. i was dreaming that she would be here, one day we would have a cup of tea in her dining room and see our life here, and they can have more happy life. i just would love it. for now, they have _ just would love it. for now, they have a _ just would love it. for now, they have a safe _ just would love it. for now, they have a safe place i just would love it. for now, they have a safe place to i just would love it. for now, i they have a safe place to call home. but theirjourney is far from over. hello. after a few showers around on saturday, particularly in the east, sunday does look drier. so, high pressure in charge of our weather through the day. largely dry with some spells of sunshine. we could just see one or two isolated showers, but quite a fresh start to the morning. temperatures in mid—single figures in the east. early morning mist and fog clears away quickly, and then we'll be seeing cloud bubbling up during the afternoon, perhaps the odd shower for the south—west of england, wales, northern england and central scotland. temperatures between 18—20 degrees, always cooler around the east coast and most places avoiding any of those rogue showers. moving through into monday morning, and we'll start to see the rain arriving across northern ireland and scotland. the cloud thickening, the is picking up here in the north—west, but clearer and drier conditions further south and east. it's here we'll have a colder start to monday morning. monday brings more sunny spells for england and wales and temperatures up to around 22 degrees, but turning wetter and cooler across northern ireland and scotland. bye for now. this is bbc news — i'm chris rogers. our top stories. irish nationalists celebrate a watershed moment in northern ireland — sinn fein wins the most seats in the election for the devolved assembly. today ushers in a new era which i believe presents us all with an opportunity to reimagine relationships in our society. ukraine says all women, children and the elderly have now been evacuated from azovstal steel plant in the city of mariupol. hong kong prepares to elect a new leader — albeit with not many voters — and only one candidate. rights in afghanistan come underfresh attack — the taliban order women to wear the full face veil. today, they decreed that all women must cover their places