In a heartfelt and intimate tribute
Ukrainian Refugee’s Life Cut Short
Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was k!lled on Aug. 22, 2025,
in an unprovoked train attack in Charlotte, North Carolina.
She had fled the war in Ukraine in 2022, hoping for a new beginning.
A Life Remembered
Her boyfriend, Stas Nikulytsia, shared a moving Instagram video showing Iryna enjoying life in America—“
sipping cocktails, eating barbecue and dancing with friends.”
One clip shows the couple embracing in an elevator, another with Iryna laughing at the camera.
Global Reaction
The reel, set to Moby’s “The Last Day”, drew thousands of comments.
“I want to remember her this way, happy and smiling,” one user wrote.
Another said, “She looked like the sweetest, softest, kindest soul.”
Legacy and Support
Iryna had dreamed of becoming a veterinary assistant.
A GoFundMe for her family has raised over $450,000.
“Her life was cut short far too soon… an irreparable loss,” the page reads.
