Boyfriend of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska shares heartbreaking video of her living the American dream before being murdered

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 Zepeddie’s 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.

Stas Nikulytsia, the boyfriend of Iryna Zarutska, the refugee who was murdered on a North Carolina train, has shared a heartbreaking video of her living the American dream before her life was cruelly cut short. (Pictured: Nikulytsia and Zarutska. They had just moved in together)
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Stas Nikulytsia, the boyfriend of Iryna Zarutska, the refugee who was murdered on a North Carolina train, has shared a heartbreaking video of her living the American dream before her life was cruelly cut short. (Pictured: Nikulytsia and Zarutska. They had just moved in together)

Horrific footage (shown in a screenshot above) captured the moment Ukrainian refugee  Zarutska, 23, was stabbed to death from behind as she sat on a train in North Carolina
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Horrific footage (shown in a screenshot above) captured the moment Ukrainian refugee  Zarutska, 23, was stabbed to death from behind as she sat on a train in North Carolina

But she was murdered in cold blood on August 22 when a stranger fatally stabbed her in the neck on a LYNX Blue Line light rail train.

She never saw her attacker’s face because the killer, who prosecutors have named as DeCarlos Brown Jr., 34, struck her from behind with a pocket knife.

Zarutska hit the headlines for the worst reasons when police released graphic surveillance footage of her final moments.

Daily Mail obtained exclusive jailhouse audio from the knifeman’s sister where he said ‘materials’ planted in his brain caused him to lash out at the innocent asylum seeker.

Brown, who is schizophrenic, is now facing the death penalty after his murder charges were upgraded to federal terrorism charges.

Nikulytsia’s video shared on Sunday shows a happy Zarutska embracing American culture as she enjoyed making connections in her new home.

The heartbreaking footage shows her playing shuffleboard in a bar, making what appeared to be buffalo chicken with cocktails, and dancing the do-si-do.

Zarutska is also seen embracing her boyfriend in an elevator, kissing the camera, and laughing with friends at poolside meets.

Nikulytsia is described as her ‘life partner’ in the obituary written by her family, and he previously spoke about his anguish via Instagram – while questioning why the killer was out on the streets given his extensive criminal history.

New video of Ukrainian woman’s final moments after stabbing

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Zarutska emigrated from Ukraine with her mother, sister, and brother to escape the war, and she 'quickly embraced her new life in the United States ,' her family wrote in her obituary
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Zarutska emigrated from Ukraine with her mother, sister, and brother to escape the war, and she ‘quickly embraced her new life in the United States ,’ her family wrote in her obituary

Stas Nikulytsia, the boyfriend of Iryna Zarutska, the refugee who was murdered on a North Carolina train, has shared a heartbreaking video of her living the American dream before her life was cruelly cut short. (Pictured: Nikulytsia and Zarutska. They had just moved in together)
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Stas Nikulytsia, the boyfriend of Iryna Zarutska, the refugee who was murdered on a North Carolina train, has shared a heartbreaking video of her living the American dream before her life was cruelly cut short. (Pictured: Nikulytsia and Zarutska. They had just moved in together)

Iryna's family said she had been 'hoping for a new beginning' when she came to Charlotte. She posted a photo (shown above) of the city's skyline on Facebook nine days before she died
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Iryna’s family said she had been ‘hoping for a new beginning’ when she came to Charlotte. She posted a photo (shown above) of the city’s skyline on Facebook nine days before she died

Her family said that before starting her new life in the US, Iryna graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration.

‘She shared her creativity generously, gifting family and friends with her artwork,’ they said.

‘She loved sculpting and designing unique, eclectic clothing that reflected her vibrant spirit.’

‘Though she enjoyed adventures, sightseeing, and exploring new places with her close friends, Iryna was also a homebody at heart, happiest when surrounded by family and loved ones,’ her traumatized family added.

‘Her mother lovingly recalls her ability to sleep for wonderfully long stretches—something she affectionately called an “artist’s gift.”’

Iryna’s family added that she had ‘a deep love for animals’ and dreamed of becoming a veterinary assistant.

‘She often cared for her neighbors’ pets, and many fondly remember seeing her walking them through the neighborhood, always with her radiant smile,’ they said.

In the meantime, Iryna was working at Zepeddie’s pizzeria in south Charlotte to pay the bills, while learning to drive to secure her independence.

Who is Iryna Zarutska? Ukrainian refugee murdered on US train

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The heartbreaking footage shared by Zarutska's boyfriend shows her playing shuffleboard in a bar, and making what appeared to be fried chicken with cocktails, as pictured above
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The heartbreaking footage shared by Zarutska’s boyfriend shows her playing shuffleboard in a bar, and making what appeared to be fried chicken with cocktails, as pictured above

The surveillance footage of her final moments on August 22 shows her wearing her unassuming work uniform – long pants with a black t-shirt and cap branded with the Zepeddie’s logo.

She had been riding back from the restaurant just before 10pm that day when Brown allegedly struck at random.

The attacker can be seen lunging at Iryna, before the footage skips the graphic slaughter to show him carrying a knife dripping with blood as he strolled through the train carriage.

Brown, who has been charged with causing Zarutska’s death, spoke for the first time from jail in a harrowing phone call recorded by his sister.

Tracey Brown, 33, shared the shocking audio with the Daily Mail of a call they had six days after he was arrested, where her brother explained what was going through his mind when he launched the bloody attack.

Brown, who is schizophrenic, is set to appear in court later this month for his arraignment.