The father of a Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed on a commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina, was unable to attend her funeral because Ukrainian restrictions bar most men of fighting age from leaving the country, the family said on Wednesday.
Iryna Zarutska, 20, who emigrated to the United States with her family in August 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, was killed last month in an attack that was captured on closed-circuit video and has drawn widespread attention and tributes. The person accused in the attack has been identified in local reporting as Decarlos Brown Jr.; authorities have alleged he stabbed Zarutska while she rode the train.
Family members said Stanislav Zarutskyi, Iryna's father, was "devastated" that he could not travel to Charlotte to pay his last respects because Ukrainian travel curbs prevent most men of military age from leaving the country. The restrictions, imposed after the start of the war in 2022, are intended to limit departures of men who could be subject to military mobilization.
An obituary issued by the family described Zarutska as "a gifted and passionate artist" who graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in art and restoration. It said she was fluent in English, enjoyed modeling and photography, and hoped to become a veterinary assistant. The statement said she had worked in retail and at a pizza shop in Charlotte while studying and building a new life with her mother and siblings.
The obituary and family photographs released since the killing emphasize Zarutska's creativity and affection for animals, describing a young woman remembered for kindness and an interest in sculpting and designing clothing. Relatives also said the family is coping with the compounded trauma of the loss and the long separation caused by the war in Ukraine.
Zarutska is survived by her parents, Anna and Stanislav; her sister, Valeriia; her brother, Bohdan; and a partner named in the obituary as Stas Nikulytsia. Family members told reporters that Zarutska's mother has been reluctant to leave the house since the killing.
The attack on the train prompted an outpouring of public reaction and drew comment from national political figures. The incident has been widely reported and the footage of the attack drew sharp public attention.
Charlotte law enforcement has said the case remains under investigation as prosecutors consider charges arising from the incident. Court records and police statements provide the primary public record of the inquiry; the family and their lawyers have described intense media attention and asked for privacy while they grieve.
Zarutska and her family left Ukraine amid the war and were among many who relocated to the United States in recent years. Family members said Stanislav remained in Ukraine, where he worked as a builder, while Anna cared for the household and raised the children; the family often took in animals, relatives said, and their life has been marked by the strains of wartime separation.
Friends, neighbors and acquaintances who have spoken publicly in recent days remembered Zarutska for her warmth, creativity and love of animals. The obituary said she will be remembered for "her kindness, her creativity, and the lasting impression she left on everyone she met."
Local officials have urged anyone with additional information about the incident to contact law enforcement as the investigation continues. The family has asked for time and space to mourn and has appealed to the public and media to respect their privacy amid ongoing inquiries and legal proceedings.