Sole responsibility for the child, difficult case

[Monkeys]

Hello forum members. Please help to understand , it seems I'm stuck, I would appreciate your advice.
I'm married and have been living in the UK for a year. My ten-year-old daughter now lives in Russia with her father's mother. My husband and I want her to live with us. Unfortunately, financial circumstances and housing problems did not allow us to apply for a visa for her before. Also, I only recently received the consent of her father to daughter's residence in the UK. Her father also admitted that I was solely responsible for her.
Before moving for about 6 years, I was the only one who took care of my daughter and paid the bills, I have letters from the doctor, nursery school, dance teacher, English teacher, my neighbors who confirm that they never saw her father or other relatives and that I paid all the bills.
But since my daughter has been living without me for a year now, I'm afraid that this has a very negative impact on my sole responsibility. Although we regularly communicate by phone and video, I did not have the opportunity to come to visit her.
Also I read in the guide about the settlement of children that if the child stays with relatives of other parent, the visa normally should be refused. The father lives in another city, and his mother can confirm that there is no communication between them, if it can help.
I'm in a panic and don't know what to do, how to get her here now. If you have any suggestions I would be very grateful.

[vinny]

It seems to me that if you have sole responsibility for your child, then you don't need the child's father's consent.