Murals of Iryna Zarutska Vandalized in New York and Florida
Murals honoring Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was killed in North Carolina, have been vandalized in several cities, including locations in New York and Florida.
Zarutska, who had fled the war in Ukraine, was fatally stabbed from behind on a Charlotte light rail train in August. The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., had previously been arrested and released multiple times. Surveillance footage of the incident was later made public.
A nationwide mural campaign was organized to commemorate Zarutska’s life and draw attention to concerns about repeat offenders in the criminal justice system. The effort has reportedly received significant financial support from donors, including Elon Musk, raising more than $1 million. Murals have appeared in cities such as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Pensacola.
Several of the artworks have since been vandalized.
This is a mural in loving memory of murdered Ukrainian refugee from Putin’s war Iryna Zarutska, funded by @elonmusk, vandalized with “Fuck Trump” sprayed on it and the Reddit post calling it “Fascist”.
That’s all you need to know about the “progressive” left. https://t.co/UfqOkNIBdJ pic.twitter.com/NtZqvhfdxc
— Mike Larson (@uxm1ke) February 5, 2026
In Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood, a large two-story mural painted on the side of a Taiwanese restaurant was unveiled in January. Within a week, graffiti was spray-painted across part of the mural, including a political message. A nearby resident told the New York Post, “This woman — it’s unfortunate what happened to her — but how do you connect her to Bushwick?”
A mural on Delancey Street in Manhattan’s Lower East Side was also defaced. Photos shared online showed spray paint across Zarutska’s face along with words encouraging vandalism.
Predictably, a mural on Delancey Street that was dedicated to Iryna Zarutska was vandalized. pic.twitter.com/6FjmOOFX5T
— Crime In NYC (@Crime_In_NYC) February 5, 2026
The memorial mural for 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Pensacola has been vandalized.
Locals painted it to honor her memory after she was brutally stabbed to death on a Charlotte light rail by a repeat offender who should never have been free. The mural read… pic.twitter.com/8wcU4L1PKC
— Alvina Birch (@AlvinaBirch) September 17, 2025
In Pensacola, Florida, artist Rod Man independently created a mural on a local bridge in September reading “Pensacola Mourns You,” accompanied by a heart. The artwork was reportedly vandalized within a day and was defaced multiple times, including spray paint over Zarutska’s face and added messages.
Organizers and supporters of the mural project say they plan to continue creating additional murals across the country despite the incidents.
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