Mother Recounts Son's Questions After Father Allegedly Kills Mother

The mother of Yana Zykova, who was allegedly murdered in Kiryat Haim, Israel, has spoken about her six-year-old grandson's distress after witnessing the crime. Nadya, Zykova's mother, who is traveling from Ukraine with her husband, revealed that the child repeatedly asked her, "Why did dad kill mom?" The suspect in Zykova's murder is her former partner, Pavlo Falkosh. Their son, a first-grader with special needs, is currently under the care of the Haifa municipality's social services. Falkosh's father, Alexander, 66, was also detained on suspicion of involvement in the murder. New details indicate that after the incident, Alexander Falkosh approached a downstairs neighbor to call the police. The neighbor found Zykova unconscious in the living room with stab wounds to her abdomen, while the child sat beside her crying. The boy told arriving officers that his father had stabbed his mother. Both Pavlo Falkosh and his father deny involvement. Their arrests have been extended until October 28. Nadya expressed her grief, stating, "I cry non-stop. She was my only daughter." She mentioned that Zykova and Falkosh divorced two years ago. An autopsy was scheduled for October 25, and Nadya plans to repatriate her daughter's body to Ukraine for burial. The suspect, Falkosh, has been sent for psychiatric evaluation at Ma'ale Carmel hospital in Tirat Carmel due to his mental state and history. Neighbors described the couple's relationship as "complicated" and noted they were not living together. They also described Zykova as a pleasant woman who was devoted to her child. Residents reported hearing screams and calling emergency services and police. Neighbors also mentioned that Zykova had previously expressed fear of the suspect, who allegedly caused her problems. Zykova and Falkosh had immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union and had no close relatives in the country. Zykova had recently undergone a long rehabilitation after an accident, during which her mother had been assisting with childcare. The child is reportedly very attached to his grandmother.