A Ukrainian refugee who ran away with her married UK sponsor while staying with his family has hit back at claims she is a 'homewrecker'.
Sofiia Karkadym says she 'didn't steal anyone' - and stressed that their relationship is 'real and wonderful'.
The 22-year-old left Lviv, Ukraine, when her country came under attack. She was placed with Tony Garnett, 29, his wife Lorna and their two children in Bradford, Yorkshire, in May.
But the smitten dad started to fall for Sofiia just days after she moved in with them.
As their relationship progressed, Tony moved out of his marital home and began living at his parents' home with his new girlfriend.
He says he has fallen in love with her and wants to spend the rest of his life with the refugee - but both parties have come under fire.
Now, she has spoken out and addressed the claims she destroyed the family, saying: "Finally, I decided to write a post about world-famous recent events.
"The first thing I want to say is that I did not steal anyone from the family. It was his conscious and considered decision, the decision of a 29-year-old man who has the right to fall in love, has the right to be happy and has the right to choose who to be with.
"The second thing I want to cover is the concept of the 'yellow press', do you really think that someone can be abducted from a happy family in 10 days?
"When you read nonsense about stars shining in a corner for advertising - do you believe it? I doubt it. Then why so much attention to my story, if it is clearly exaggerated and written in such a way as to be as dramatic as possible?"
She added: "The third is actually provocations on the part of Russia which Ukraine with pleasure picked up.
"And the fourth - Anthony and I are fine.
"Therefore, those who supported me from the very beginning and knew that behind any of my actions there is something real and wonderful - thank you. The rest - you will be disappointed in your judgments."
Tony later took to Sofiia's Instagram to share the message: "Tony Garnett here posting this on Sofia's Instagram.
"How wrong a lot of you are with negativity, from withheld facts. The truth will be revealed soon."
Sofiia has previously said her family were ashamed of her and couldn't face being in public because of her actions.
Previously speaking to The Sun, she said: "I have people writing to me saying I'm a horrible person, that I did a bad thing for my country.
"Everyone in the UK is thinking the same thing because I take a man from the family — but all of this is lies.
"I am not a homewrecker, that's bulls**t. I never thought or planned to go into their home and take Tony from Lorna, as far as I'm concerned they destroyed their relationship long before I arrived."
