Why Ukrainians treated differently from other refugees?

[Babymamamama]

Disclaimer I’m not a current affairs specialist and not trying to start a bun fight this is a genuine question.
Aibu to ask why it is Ukranian refugees have on appearance been treated so differently from other groups fleeing dreadful conflicts in their home country. I’m specifically thinking of Afghan and Syrian nationals as they are the two groups I’m most aware of.

Round my way people have been hosting Ukrainians, clubbing together as whole streets to contribute to flat deposits, gathering up household items to set up Ukrainians in their temporary homes, holding fundraising concerts. It’s all all admirable and I myself have also contributed where I could. But a lingering question remains -why for this group and not the others? Is this unconscious bias? Why the difference in approach and treatment? Not wanting to offend but something about this doesn’t sit well with me. Can anyone with more knowledge of world affairs enlighten me please?

This situation is being repeated across the country. Couples have had their weddings cancelled as its more lucrative to accommodate economic migrants who enter the country illegally. They should go down the legal route as required in most other countries.

The UK is part of a block strategically aligning itself with Ukraine in order to weaken Russian influence now that Trump has gone, therefore we've all been repeatedly told that Ukrainians are people like us.

It's totally working as well - you hear people talk about "the war" as though it were the only conflict happening, even as though it were a UK war.

Surely it's because of the threat from Russia to us? We need to support Ukraine so they get to the point that Russia will come to a deal.
Also politically it's wise to be seen to help out your neighbours as the shoe could easily be on the other foot.

Those who say the culture is similar, please say how? I’m intrigued how culture is similar.

You do also realise that many Syrians speak English too. Syrians are very educated as well…

Simple answer- racism.

Syrians are very educated as well…

yes a complete culture clash!

Russia also posed a threat via their actions in Syria. Why was that any different?

Can we please understand the difference between an asylum seeker and refugee.

Asylum seekers have to prove to the home office they cannot go home. They are given £40 a week to live on. They are not allowed to work. They cannot study English for free for 6 months.

Refugees have been granted the right to live, work and study. This is granted if they prove to the home office they are in danger or who come on programmes such as the Syrians in 2015 who were granted this immediately.

Ukrainians have been given leave to remain for three years, with the same rights as refugees. Plus the council is given £10500 for every Ukrainian on the homes for Ukraine scheme.

Amongst ALL these groups are possible economic migrants.

Of course it is.

People don't like it being said, which is why some posters are reacting defensively.

It’s funny that everyone is saying how culturally similar they are yet I have seen so many threads on here of hosts complaining about their Ukrainian guests, how they are being so entitled, hate the food they cook, complaining about the country etc, not wanting to work unless it meets their standards etc and people on here making all sorts of excuses for this hairy behaviour and I wonder if a brown refugee behaved even slightly like that what people’s response would be. I remember there were Syrian doctors and professionals coming here working in shops but no, they’re too different! Racial stereotypes really but carry on.

Zelenskiy has been cosying up to NATO for the last few years. So Ukraine is in a different geopolitical position than Syria is.

Also Russia now has spent the last couple of years carrying out an important peacekeeping role in Armenia (while Ukraine worked to intensify conflict there including possibly supplying Azerbaijan with white gas) - again this is a development in terms of the wider region with implications for relations with Turkey, another country peripheral to Europe.

'Ukrainian guest …I’m not feeling comfortable'
Check this thread out for culutal compatibility

Russia also posed a threat via their actions in Syria. Why was that any different?

I don't understand your point? Has anyone claimed Russia isn't a threat to the west because they have backed Assad? Of course it's a threat. However I think there is a difference between Russia supporting a regime in another continent to Russia invading a country with NATO borders. It's logical to react differently when the wolf is at your door.

Women and children
Common enemy
We know who they are - unlike Afghan / Syria
Temporary
Similar culture - one that isn't diametrically opposed to liberal values, Women's equality etc

I don't buy that it's down to skin colour. Culture/religion perhaps due to fears of terrorism and what accommodating large numbers of people from anti-democratic, deeply patriarchal societies will do to our society.

@roarfeckingroarr ...we know who they are unlike Syrians and Afghans?

Don't drink the cool aid.

Perhaps the very simple answer is that we were asked to take in Ukrainian refuges and the means to do so was set up by the Government.

Had the Government done likewise for Afghanistanian refuges, we might also have offered to host them. There was a lot of concern for them when the collapse came.

Maybe we should ask the Government why they didn’t do this rather than blaming people who want to help, but often don’t know what’s needed and how to organise it.

I agree with @mywaymona, it feels much safer to offer a room to a Mum with children from Ukraine rather than to single males in 20s or 30s from Syria or Afghanistan. Incidentally as a Foster Carer I offered to care for an unaccompanied minor Syrian refugee but was declined as I am not Muslim. Apparently policy dictates they must be offered homes with Muslim carers who will observe all religious requirements. I was told attending mosque three times a day as an example.

They're fleeing the archaic patriarchal society, they don't want any part of it. There are still genocidal attacks on ethnic minority groups by Taliban

I also disagree on the similar cultures with the U.K, but there is a perception that they are similar & there is the shared belief that Russia is a threat. As a European myself I would say the UK is quite different to most of Europe culturally.

Syria borders a NATO country.

@abcdeg are the men though? Or do they just want to live a better life but still hold those values.

If I had room I would take a child from anywhere.

It's not just the Christian element because we have not taken loads of Christians from the ME despite all the persecution of them.

This would be tricky - the religious aspect. Having to change what you eat, remove alcohol from the house, visit a mosque if you're not muslim

@towellette I remember campaigns for us to do more to help persecuted Christians and Yazidis.

Yes, im pretty sure they do. Their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters are at risk. I'm sorry, but men from Syria and Afghan aren't aliens. They're not undercover Taliban fighters. They're real people who had livelihoods like we do.

They want to live peacefully in safety like anyone else. If they have family here already, not surprising they want to live in an area with a familiar diaspora.

And people are acting like Ukrainian men are noble and other men are some cowards. Weren't Ukrainian men made to fight? Aren't there plenty of men who already fought for the Afghan army for example? Those men's lives are at immediate risk if discovered. Not surprising they want to be as far away as possible, come on.