A young Ukrainian woman who fled to the United States seeking a better life has been identified as the victim of a merciless stabbing on Friday night.

Iryna Zarutska, 23, was found dead at 9.55pm on Friday at South End light rail station in North Carolina.

The woman had only recently moved to the US from Ukraine in an effort to escape the ongoing war with Russia.

She was 'hoping for a new beginning,' loved ones say.

'This is an irreparable loss for her family,' a GoFundMe set up to support Zarutska's aunt read.