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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
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Antony Thrower & Iona Young

Dad runs off with Ukrainian refugee 10 days after she arrived to family home

A man has left his partner and the mum of his two children for a Ukrainian refugee who moved into their home just ten days before the split.

Tony Ganett, 29, left Lorna, 28, after falling for Sofiia Karkadym who had fled the horrors of her home town Lviv at the start of the conflict with Russia.

Tony, a 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.

READ MORE: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tests positive for Covid and is experiencing 'mild' symptoms

Tony became Sofiia’s sponsor and, just over a week after she arrived, left his partner and children for a new life reports the Record.

Speaking to The Sun, Tony, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, said: “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 with 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.

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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?”

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