Musk pledged $1 million for murals with Iryna Zarutska: how the death of a Ukrainian woman became a symbol in the United States
10 September 21:41
The murder of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in the US city of Charlotte has caused a stir in both Ukraine and the US.
Politicians, public figures, and global businessmen joined the discussion of the tragedy. In particular, billionaire Elon Musk announced financial support for an initiative to immortalize the girl’s memory with large murals in various US cities.
The owner of Tesla and SpaceX announced this on the social network X, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
What happened
- Elon Musk said on the social network X: “I will contribute $1 million” to the creation of murals with Iryna Zarutska’s face.
- The idea was put forward by the CEO of the American technology company Intercom, Eoghan McCabe.
- He proposed to allocate $500,000 in grants of $10,000 each for the creation of murals in famous US cities and called on others to join in.
- Musk actually doubled the amount by supporting this initiative.
Reaction in the United States
- The White House criticized the US media for insufficient coverage of the tragedy.
- On September 8, U.S. President Donald Trump called the murder “horrific,” promised to investigate the circumstances, and expressed his condolences to the family.
- Trump also linked the incident to cases of anti-Christian prejudice in the country.
- The US President also called for the death penalty for the murderer of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in the United States. He called the attacker an animal because he attacked a person who was seeking refuge from war.
Who is Iryna Zarutska?
- the 23-year-old Ukrainian woman came to the United States as a refugee.
- In late August 2025, she was murdered at a train station in Charlotte, North Carolina.
- The circumstances of the crime are being investigated by American law enforcement.
Why it matters
The participation of Musk and other well-known entrepreneurs in honoring the memory of the Ukrainian woman makes this story not only a personal tragedy, but also a symbol for American society, which is still looking for a balance between political polarization, security issues, and the protection of migrants’ rights.
