New Immigrant From Ukraine Brutally Murdered in Haifa Area; Ex-Husband Suspected

A 43-year-old new immigrant from Ukraine, Yana Zykova, was found brutally murdered in her apartment in Kiryat Haim, near Haifa. The horrific crime occurred in front of her six-year-old son, who has special needs. Neighbors heard cries for help, called the police, and took the frightened child to safety. The victim had reportedly complained about difficult family relations and feared her ex-husband, Pavlo Felkosh, 34, who is the primary suspect. Paramedics pronounced Zykova dead at the scene due to multiple stab wounds. Felkosh was arrested in the apartment the same night. A court ordered him held for five days and sent for psychiatric evaluation, as he has a diagnosed mental illness and was in an inadequate state upon arrest. His father, also present in the apartment during the incident, was also handcuffed by police. The murder has sparked public outrage and highlighted the issue of domestic violence in Israel. According to the Michal Sela Forum, this is the 23rd domestic homicide in Israel in 2026, with 15 women and four children among the victims. Activists noted that many such tragedies could be prevented, as authorities were often aware of family problems beforehand. The article also referenced similar recent cases, including the murder of Nania Melda in Beersheba and Yanina, an immigrant from Belarus, in Haifa, both of whom left young children orphaned.