A man has left the mum of his two children for a Ukrainian refugee who moved into their home just ten days before.
Tony Garnett, 29, left Lorna, 28, after falling for Sofiia Karkadym who had fled the horrors of her home town Lviv at the start of the invasion.
The security guard had initially signed up for the Government’s rehoming scheme last month but became inpatient so reached out on social media to help.
Tony, from Bradford, West Yorks, became Sofiia’s sponsor and just over a week after she arrived has left his partner and children for a new life.
He told The Sun : “It began with a simple desire from me to do the right thing and put a roof over the head of someone in need, a man or woman.
“It came to a head last Saturday when she really went for Sofiia, yelling at her, using some harsh language that left her in tears. She said she didn’t feel she could stay under our roof any more and something inside me clicked.
“We’re sorry for the pain we’ve caused but I’ve discovered a connection with Sofiia like I’ve never had before.”
Sofiia, 22, added “these things happen.”
Tony’s now ex-partner Lorna had grown fed up at the immediate close bond he gained with Sofiia, as the two would go to the gym together and sit for hours talking in a car park.
Eventually she ordered their guest to leave, but was stunned when Tony announced he was leaving too, with the pair shacking up at his parents’ home.
They are now in the process of finding a new home together.
Latest updates show more than 33,000 refugees from Ukraine are now in the UK sponsored by families, with 68,700 visas issued out of 84,000 applications.
Last night Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko said she was concerned about what would happen to refugees if they are kicked out by their hosts.
She added: “What is the backup plan UK government? Where should these people go?
"The hosts have no legal responsibility for them.. at the end of the day we have a Ukrainian family out on the streets, without enough time to find a new place for them, it's another ordeal for people who've already been living through a war."
Current estimates suggest more than 6.4million people have left Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February.
Yesterday it was reported a Ukrainian family in the UK are considering heading back home as they aren't allowed to keep their cats with them in Wales.
The three-generation family arrived in their Volkswagen Polo after travelling across Europe with their three pets and a Degu Chilean squirrel.
However, facing the prospect of life without their beloved cats, the family-of-five are looking to leave before they’ve barely settled in.
Lena, 53, travelled to Montgomery, Powys, with her three children, Anna 33, Vika 25, Alexi 13 and Anna’s daughter Ryta.
They were taken in by a married couple, Mark and Sue Michaels, who were able to accommodate them in their five-bedroom house.
Sue said: “Their faith in the system has completely gone.
“Can you imagine wanting to go back to a war zone in preference to not having the cats?”
