'He had to stay back': War in Ukraine keeps father from laying Iryna Zarutska to rest; family reels with grief

The father of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska , who was brutally stabbed to death on a Charlotte train last month, was unable to attend her funeral in the US as he is trapped in his war-torn homeland by Ukraine’s wartime rules.

Zarutska was buried in Charlotte on Aug. 27, surrounded by her grieving mother, siblings, neighbours and friends. But her father, of fighting age, was legally required to remain in Ukraine as the country battles Russia’s invasion.

“He had to stay back. He didn’t come for the funeral,” a neighbour of the family told The Post. “He’s still there for whatever the war time rules are.”

Zarutska had fled Ukraine in 2022 with her mother, younger brother and sister, seeking safety and a fresh start in the US. But on August 22, her American dream was cut short. Surveillance video shows her riding the Charlotte light rail after work when a man sitting behind her pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the neck without warning.

The accused, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr , has a nearly two-decade rap sheet with at least 14 prior arrests.

Neighbours described Zarutska as “sweet, creative, and kindhearted,” often helping the community by pet-sitting and sharing her artwork. A glowing obituary remembered her as a talented artist with dreams of becoming a veterinary assistant, someone who loved sculpting and designing eclectic clothing.

“She shared her creativity generously, gifting family and friends with her artwork,” it read, according to The Post. “Her absence leaves a deep void, but her spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved her."