Mother of Slain Woman Travels From Ukraine to Care for Grandchild

The grandmother of a six-year-old boy with special needs, whose mother Yana Zykova was allegedly murdered by her former partner on Friday evening, October 23, in Haifa, is en route to Israel to assume care of the child. Haifa municipality social services are simultaneously attempting to locate other family members who might assist the boy. The child, a first-grader attending a special educational institution, reportedly witnessed the tragic event and was evacuated from the scene by police and social services personnel. Zykova, who lived alone in a fourth-floor apartment, had a "complicated" and reportedly separated relationship with her former cohabitant, according to neighbors. One neighbor described Zykova as a "pleasant woman" who "very carefully looked after her child and protected him," dedicating herself to his care. Both Zykova and her former partner were immigrants to Israel from former Soviet countries. Zykova had no relatives residing permanently in Israel, though her mother had recently been in the country assisting with the child's upbringing while Zykova underwent lengthy rehabilitation following a car accident. Neighbors stated the grandmother was instrumental in the child's care during this period, and the boy is "very attached" to her. The suspect has been apprehended, and the alleged murder weapon, a knife, was found at the scene. Preliminary reports suggest the suspect may have been experiencing an acute psychotic episode at the time of the incident. Neighbors reported hearing screams from the apartment, prompting their call to the police. MDA emergency medical personnel arrived to find Zykova in critical condition with multiple stab wounds. Despite resuscitation efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.