The father of Ukrainian murder victim Iryna Zarutska could not attend her funeral in Charlotte, North Carolina due to Ukraine’s strict rules preventing men of fighting age from leaving the country, as revealed on Wednesday.

Stanislav Zarutskyi was reportedly ‘devastated’ at being unable to bid farewell to his beloved daughter, who was tragically stabbed to death on a train, allegedly by homeless career criminal Decarlos Brown Jr.

Iryna’s murder last month – caught on chilling CCTV footage – has caused nationwide outrage, with President Donald Trump condemning the act as ‘horrible’ and suggesting the possibility of deploying the National Guard to the city.

The initial lack of coverage by the national liberal media, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN, was met with widespread frustration.

At just 20 years old, Iryna was compelled to move to the US three years earlier, alongside her mother Anna and two siblings, due to the onset of Vladimir Putin’s brutal war, leaving her father Stanislav in Ukraine, as he was under the age limit of 60 and thus not permitted to leave.

Now, new family photos and videos show Iryna full of life, dreaming of a career as a catwalk model and playfully engaging with family and friends.

The happy images of a young woman enjoying her life stand in sharp contrast to the mindless savagery of the CCTV showing her last moments alive on a commuter train.

An obituary written by her family says of her that she was ‘a gifted and passionate artist, Iryna graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration.

The father of Ukrainian murder victim Iryna Zarutska could not attend her funeral in Charlotte, North Carolina because of strict rules banning fighting age men from leaving Ukraine

Stanislav Zarutskyi, pictured left, was reportedly ‘devastated’ not to be able to pay his last respects after his beautiful daughter was brutally stabbed to death on a train

Iryna’s murder last month – captured in chilling CCTV footage – has sparked nationwide shock 

Ms Zaruska’s alleged attacker, Decarlos Brown Jr, pictured, did not show any signs of violence or mental distress

‘Father Stanislav was a builder before the war, while her mother was a homemaker in Ukraine with a talent for needlework and crochet.

‘She shared her creativity generously, gifting family and friends with her artwork. She loved sculpting and designing unique, eclectic clothing that reflected her vibrant spirit.’

The memorial goes on: ‘Iryna also had a deep love for animals. She often cared for her neighbours’ pets, and many fondly remember seeing her walking them through the neighbourhood, always with her radiant smile.

‘She dreamed of pursuing a career as a Veterinary Assistant while also working toward her independence by learning to drive.

‘Remarkably, she became fluent in English within a very short time, reflecting her determination and love of learning.

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

Iryna is survived by her parents, Anna and Stanislav; her sister, Valeriia; her brother, Bohdan; her ‘life partner’, named as Stas Nikulytsia.

There was widespread anger that the story was initially ignored by the national liberal media, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and CNN

Iryna, then aged just 20, was forced to emigrate to the US three years ago at the start of Vladimir Putin ‘s brutal war, along with her mother Anna, and two siblings

Now, new family photos and video have emerged, showing Iryna playing to the camera with dreams of becoming a catwalk model

The happy images of a young woman enjoying her life stand in sharp contrast to the mindless savagery of the CCTV showing her last moments alive on a commuter train

Iryna graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration

Iryna graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration

Iryna pictured with friends. The memorial goes on: ‘Iryna also had a deep love for animals. She often cared for her neighbours’ pets’

She ‘will be remembered for her kindness, her creativity, and the lasting impression she left on everyone she met.

‘Her absence leaves a deep void, but her spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved her.’

The large family, like many, split apart by Putin’s war, ‘always had pets — the children often brought home stray kittens, and their parents could never bring themselves to send the animals back out on the street’.

In her homeland, Iryna ‘worked as a barmaid at the Beer Market shop and was also engaged in the restoration of historical buildings and artefacts.

‘In August 2022, she moved to the United States with her family, settling in Charlotte.’

She studied English and ‘learned quickly in the United States’.

She ‘walked neighbours’ pets and dreamt of becoming a veterinary assistant, while for the time being she worked in a clothing shop and at Zepeddie’s Pizza.

‘In addition, she did some modelling and collaborated with photographer and make-up artist Ulyana Kozlovskaya.’

Iryna pictured as a child. She ‘will be remembered for her kindness, her creativity, and the lasting impression she left on everyone she met’, her obituary read

In her homeland, Iryna ‘worked as a barmaid at the Beer Market shop and was also engaged in the restoration of historical buildings and artefacts’

The statement continued ‘In August 2022, she moved to the United States with her family, settling in Charlotte’

She studied English and ‘learned quickly in the United States’

She ‘walked neighbours’ pets and dreamt of becoming a veterinary assistant

For the time being she worked in a clothing shop and at Zepeddie’s Pizza

The family are struggling to cope with the intense interest in Iryna’s horrific killing, according to her mother

‘In addition, she did some modelling and collaborated with photographer and make-up artist Ulyana Kozlovskaya,’ a statement added

Earlier this week, Iryna’s aunt Valeria exclusively told the Daily Mail that Iryna’s mother was too scared to leave the house in Charlotte, following her daughter’s murder.

The 56-year-old, who is Iryna’s aunt through her marriage to husband Frank Scott Haskell, said the family have ‘been living for three years in incredible pain’ with the ongoing bloody war in their native Ukraine.

She said they need ‘time’ and ‘space’ and that they do not want to make a ‘show’ of their grief, adding: ‘I have no words.’

The family are struggling to cope with the intense interest in Iryna’s horrific killing, she said, adding that Iryna’s mother, Anna, is too scared to leave the house.