British Dad Runs Off With Ukrainian Refugee Just 10 Days After Family Takes Her In

Tony Garnett Sofiia Kardakym Ukrainian Refugee British Dad Runs Off With Ukrainian Refugee

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald May 25, 05:15 am

Photo: (Photo : Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

A British dad left his partner of 10 years after falling in love with the Ukrainian refugee their family had taken in. Tony Garnett applied to be part of the U.K. Government's refugee scheme, but the 29-year-old grew impatient with the long process. Instead, he joined Facebook groups where Ukrainians were looking for sponsors.

This is where Sofiia Karkadym found Garnett. The 22-year-old Ukrainian fled her home in the city of Lviv after Russia invaded their country. Karkadym arrived in the United Kingdom on May 4 after figuring out the logistics and went on to live with Garnett, his partner Lorna and their six and three-year-old daughters in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Garnett told The Sun in an interview how he and Karkadym "just clicked" and got on really well immediately after she arrived in the U.K. The pair's instant connection was partly because he could speak Slovakian, which is similar to the Ukrainian language.

Tony shocks Lorna with decision to leave with Sofiia

Garnett and Karkadym started chatting in a language Lorna did not understand, with the pair staying up late to watch TV after she had gone to bed. They also went to the gym together regularly. Tony and Sofiia both claimed that although they were getting on brilliantly at this time, it was completely innocent and no more than that.

Garnett said he would come home to a meal cooked by Karkadym, with her telling him how lucky Lorna was to have him. Lorna was angry about the deepening relationship between the two and eventually asked Sofiia to leave the family's home. However, Lorna was shocked when Garnett told her that if Sofiia was leaving, he was going with her.

Within ten days of Karkadym's arrival, the new couple left the house and moved in with Garnett's parents. According to Metro, Garnett and Karkadym had started looking for a property together and had begun the process for a permanent visa for the latter.

Karkadym insists she is not a homewrecker

Garnett said that he was so sorry for what Lorna was going through. He reiterated that this was not her fault and was not about anything she did wrong. Karkadym said in an interview that as soon as she saw Garnett, she fancied him. She said their relationship has been swift, but this is their love story.

Karkadym said she knows people will think badly of her, but it happens. She has no regrets, though, as she could see how unhappy Garnett was in his previous relationship. According to the Mirror, Karkadym was adamant that she was not a homewrecker and that Lorna drove them to be together with the constant suspicions.

Lorna had told reporters earlier this week that she had reservations about letting a stranger into her home, but she decided it was right to help the people of Ukraine. That decision proved costly for Lorna, with her relationship now in tatters.