Iryna Zarutska’s boyfriend has shared a heartbreaking video showing the young Ukrainian embracing life in America before her dream was cruelly cut short.
The 23-year-old refugee had just moved in with her partner Stas Nikulytsia in Charlotte, North Carolina, when she was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack on a light rail train last month.
In a poignant compilation posted to Instagram, Nikulytsia showed his girlfriend reveling in her new life in America – sipping cocktails, eating barbecue and dancing with friends.
The video also captured tender moments, including the couple embracing in an elevator, kissing the camera and enjoying their early twenties.
Zarutska fled a bomb shelter in Ukraine in 2022 with her mother, sister and brother to escape the war. She quickly learned English and had been hoping for a new beginning when she came to Charlotte, her family said.
She worked at a pizzeria in the south of the city to make ends meet while learning to drive and dreaming of becoming a veterinary assistant.
The art school graduate’s family declined to have her body returned to Ukraine, saying she would have wanted to be buried in the US because she loved America.
Clearly enamored by her new city, she even posted a photograph of the Charlotte skyline on Facebook just nine days before she died.
Horrific footage captured the moment Zarutska was stabbed to death from behind as she sat on a train in North Carolina.
The boyfriend of murdered Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska has shared a moving video celebrating her life in America, following her tragic death on Aug. 22, 2025.
Uploaded on Sept. 15, the emotional reel received thousands of reactions and comments from around the world. Commenters expressed sympathy and gratitude at being shown a glimpse of her happy life in Charlotte with her partner and friends.
In the video, set to the song The Last Day by Moby ft. Skylar Grey, Iryna is seen enjoying her life in the United States — hanging out with friends by the pool, drinking beers, dancing, and playing card games.
In one clip, she embraces her boyfriend Stas in an elevator, smiling at the camera; in others, she pulls faces, dances, and laughs without a care in the world.
Commenters were struck by the normality and joyfulness of the clips, in contrast with the harrowing way Iryna’s life ended.
“I think many are grateful to see her as she was, rather than only in those final moments,” one person wrote.
“Thank you for sharing a piece of your beautiful Iryna’s life with us,” another said.
Others wrote messages in Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish, and Chinese, reflecting how widely her story resonated.
Many remarked on her kind nature. “You know when you can just tell by looking at someone’s face that they had a great heart. That’s what I’m getting from this video. She looked like the sweetest, softest, kindest soul. The person least deserving of such a heinous crime. I hope wherever she is now, it’s a much better place than here.”
Another wrote, “It feels a little better to see how much she was loved. I can’t imagine how it must feel for all of those who were close to her. Rest in peace Angel.”
What happened to Iryna Zarutska?
While returning home on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line from a shift at the pizzeria she worked at, Zarutska was brutally stabbed by the man seated behind her. Her killer, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr, was arrested at the scene.
Iryna had previously moved to the United States in 2022 to start a new life after escaping war-torn Ukraine. She was a creative and studious person with a degree in Art and Restoration, and adored animals.
“She often cared for her neighbors’ pets, and many fondly remember seeing her walking them through the neighborhood, always with her radiant smile. She dreamed of pursuing a career as a Veterinary Assistant while also working toward her independence by learning to drive. Remarkably, she became fluent in English within a very short time, reflecting her determination and love of learning,” her obituary reads.
Her boyfriend Stas was described as her life partner. The couple had moved in together in May, and she had recently bought a car which he was teaching her to drive.
As well as the moving video, Stas posted another tribute showing the couple by a lake, captioned with a broken heart.
A GoFundMe page set up by friends of her aunt Valeria has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the family during this loss.
“Ira had recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning. Tragically, her life was cut short far too soon,” it reads.
“This is an irreparable loss for her family. We have created this fundraiser to support Valeria and her loved ones during this heartbreaking time and to help them with the unexpected expenses.”
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