Retired British woman volunteering in Ukraine has bank account shut by Lloyds

Former social worker now helping in Kherson says her account was closed after missing a text message

A retired social worker who has spent the past year doing humanitarian work across Ukraine – frequently dodging missiles and other attacks – was left with no access to her pension or life savings after Lloyds Banking Group, possibly fearing she was a sanctions risk, shut her bank account.

Fiona Hancock and her partner, Robert Paliwoda, have been working as volunteers helping women and children across various parts of the country since June last year.