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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Alahna Kindred

Ukrainian refugee who ran off with Brit who took her in says parents are ashamed of her

A Ukrainian refugee who ran off with a British man after taking her in has said her parents are ashamed of her.

Sofiia Karkadym, 22, fled the Russian invasion and travelled from Lviv to Bradford, West Yorkshire, to stay with Lorna Garnett, 28, and her boyfriend of eight years, Tony, 29.

The Ukrainian IT worker hit headlines in her home country and here in the UK after Lorna accused her of running off with her man - just ten days into her stay at their home with the couple's two children.

But Sofiia broke down in tears as she insisted that she is not a homewrecker and claimed Lorna had driven them together with constant suspicions, The Sun reports.

Sofiia also said her parents are ashamed of her.

Lorna (pictured) has been left devastated after Tony started a relationship with Sofiia (NB PRESS LTD)
Tony with Sofiia as they start their new life together (NB PRESS LTD)

She said: "My parents said they were ashamed and cannot even go outside because of me.

“They say that because of me nobody in the UK will take in Ukrainians.

“Every UK family will now think ‘I can’t take in a refugee because she will take my husband from me’."

Sofiia insists that nothing happened between her and Tony until after they left the couple’s home and that it is Lorna who is "two-faced.

Sofiia Karkadym insists she is not a homewrecker (REX/Shutterstock)
Tony Garnett and his former partner Lorna (REX/Shutterstock)

She added: “Her constant suspicions, the tension, it just pushed me and Tony closer together."

Sofiia continued: "It was my decision to leave when I did and Tony decided to come with me.”

Emotionally recounting her memories from the first day of the Russian invasion back in February, Sofiia from Kyiv explained how much her life changed in an instant.

Sofiia moved to Bradford from the Ukraine earlier this month (NB PRESS LTD)
Sofiia in Kyiv before she fled to the UK (NB PRESS LTD)

Forced to leave behind her job, routine and friends, Sofiia decided her safest option was to seek refuge in the UK and posted her application for a sponsor on the Opora Homes for Ukraine site in April.

After logging onto the site Tony claimed he came across Sofiia's details first but was frustrated at how slow the process was moving and began discussing the move over Facebook.

Sofiia travelled from Ukraine to Germany before landing in Manchester on May 4 where she was picked up by Tony.

Sofiia came to the UK earlier this month (REX/Shutterstock)
Sofiia Karkadym says her parents are ashamed of her for getting together with her Brit host (REX/Shutterstock)

After her horrific ordeal, Sofiia claimed all she wanted was someone to talk to but claimed Lorna would question why Tony was spending time watching telly with their guest every night.

When questioned on the love triangle, Tony admitted the "s**t has hit the fan" but claimed he was not able to fight his feelings for Sofiia and that it was "love at first sight".

Tony claimed "it was a no brainer" adding that he would "rather be on his arse and happy".

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