Remembering young Ukrainian artist killed in South End stabbing
Three years after fleeing war in Ukraine, 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was building a new life in Charlotte when she was fatally stabbed in a random attack near a South End light rail station
The following article appeared in the Aug. 27, 2025, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
A young Ukrainian refugee who worked at Subway is remembered as an animal-lover and a ‘passionate artist’ with a ‘vibrant spirit’
by Lindsey Banks
Her mother lovingly called it an “artist’s gift,” the way 23-year-old artist Iryna Zarutska could “sleep for wonderfully long stretches.” She was a true homebody, her family recalled, but still loved exploring new places.
Friends and neighbors remember Zarutska a little differently, as someone who loved animals and pet-sitting, and would flash “her radiant smile” when passing by while walking dogs in the neighborhood.
Just three years after fleeing the war in Ukraine, Zarutska was carving out a life in Charlotte. She had a degree in art and restoration from Synergy College in Kyiv and was taking English classes at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. She worked as a line cook at a Subway in Huntersville, according to her LinkedIn profile, and she was “a gifted and passionate artist” with a love of sculpting and designing eclectic clothing that “reflected her vibrant spirit,” according to her family.
Zarutska had dreams of becoming a veterinary assistant and getting her driver’s license. That future was cut short Friday night, though, when she was stabbed and killed in what appears to be a random and senseless attack in the middle of bustling South End.
