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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Antony Thrower

Ukrainian refugee dumped by Brit lover 'relieved' to return to war-torn homeland

A Ukrainian refugee dumped by her British lover who gave up his family life for her has now returned to her home country.

Sofiia Karkadym, 22, arrived in the UK after fleeing the war in Ukraine and quickly made headlines when her host, Tony Garnett, left his partner for her.

Tony has now left Sofiia too - rejecting her calls to take her back.

As a result, she decided to return to Ukraine - despite the ongoing conflict with Russia - and arrived home in Kolomyia, near Lviv, where she is staying with her grandmother.

She said she was “relieved” to be home after being left living in emergency accommodation after her relationship with Tony ended.

Tony Garnett, 29, with Sofiia Karkadym during their brief relationship (Instagram)

Sofiia told Mail Online : “I was scared when I arrived in Lviv because an alarm went off at the train station. And people thought there may be some sort of attack by the Russians.

“When I was on the bus I saw the funeral of a soldier. I began to cry again when I saw that.

"It really brought it back to me of what is going on here. Ukrainians are being murdered and our soldiers are being as brave as any."

Soffia will stay in her grandmother's home for a few days before travelling to Kyiv to be with her mum and sister.

She added she just “needs peace” now.

Sofiia said she was 'scared' when she arrived back in Ukraine (REX/Shutterstock)
The former refugee is staying in Lviv before heading to the capital (REX/Shutterstock)

Tony Garnett, 30, and 28-year-old partner Lorna - the mum to their two kids - welcomed Sofiia Karkadym into their home earlier this year

The family took in the 22-year-old after her country was invaded by Russia back in February - and she quickly caught the eye of the security guard.

But after running away with her and embarking on a four-month relationship just 10 days after she arrived in May, the dad has now cut Sofiia out of his life after a series of blistering rows.

The couple's four-month relationship came to a dramatic end last weekend.

Tony, from Bradford, Yorkshire, said: "I'm not heartless. I do feel sorry for her. But relationships do come to an end and this one is over.

"I hope we can be friends when all this hysteria has died down.

"I talked to her and told her that there was absolutely no chance of us getting back together.

"Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. She'll be much better off in Ukraine or if she gets a new relationship, good luck to her."

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