Mural honoring slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska unveiled in Brooklyn
Photo: mural honoring Iryna Zarutska (Facebook page of Yuliia Horodetska)
A mural dedicated to 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska has appeared in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The young woman was killed in August in North Carolina, according to the New York Post.
The mural spans three stories and is painted on the façade of a building. The artwork was created by American street artist Ben Keller, known for memorial projects honoring victims of violent crimes.
The project was funded by IT entrepreneur Johan McCabe, who donated $500,000, and businessman Elon Musk, who contributed $1 million. An additional $200,000 was raised through private donations.
According to McCabe, such artistic initiatives are meant to ensure that tragedies like this do not fade from public memory and to draw attention to systemic problems in the United States. He stressed that murals should serve as reminders of shortcomings in the current approach to crime prevention and response.
"I started this campaign to make sure that the story of Iryna does not disappear. Her murder is at the nexus of many issues plaguing American society. For example, one is the progressive approach to crime," the entrepreneur said.
Reaction of local residents
The reaction of Bushwick residents to the mural has been mixed. As the publication notes, part of the community welcomed the initiative, saying the memory of the Ukrainian refugee deserves to be honored.
At the same time, a number of local activists sharply criticized the mural, calling it a form of political propaganda. They argued that supporters of US President Donald Trump, who they claim do not support Ukrainians or refugees, had used the tragedy to promote their own political messages and inflame racial tensions.
Murder of Iryna Zarutska
In August 2025 Ukrainian citizen Iryna Zarutska was brutally murdered in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. She had moved to the United States while fleeing Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
Iryna was stabbed on a light-rail tram by DeCarlos Brown, 34, who was known to have had previous run-ins with the law.
Reacting to the killing, US President Donald Trump called the attacker "insane" and said he intended to "act tough" and take "harsh measures."
Brown has been federally charged with murder on mass transit. He could face the death penalty, as the US attorney general has pledged to seek the maximum possible sentence.
