Footage of a Ukrainian refugee being stabbed to death in a brazen attack on a train in the US has left America shocked and outraged.

"Gifted and passionate artist" Iryna Zarutska, 23, had fled Kyiv after six months of Russia's invasion of her homeland.

But in August this year, she was slaughtered on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina.

CCTV footage from the train released by the Charlotte Area Transit System shows Ms Zarutska boarding the carriage and sitting down in front of suspect Decarlos Brown Jr.

In the clip, Ms Zarutska can be seen looking at her phone in apparent silence on the train while Brown Jr sits behind her.

Suddenly, the suspect rises from his seat and raises a pocket knife before stabbing the 23-year-old in the throat. The moment of the stabbing is not seen on the footage, as revealed by local network WBTV News.

Brown Jr can be seen walking to the front of the Lynx Blue Line train, leaving a trail of blood in his wake across the floor

Seconds later, Brown Jr can be seen walking to the front of the Lynx Blue Line train, leaving a trail of blood in his wake across the floor.

Bizarrely, other passengers appear not to notice the blood, nor that the young woman has been killed just behind them.

Now, fury is growing across the United States about the suspect's violent history and local politicians' apparent desire to keep the footage under wraps.

Brown Jr, 34 and homeless, has a history of mental health problems, arrests and convictions. He has been charged with first-degree murder over Ms Zarutska's death.

He has in the past served five years in prison for robbery with a deadly weapon.

PICTURED: Decarlos Brown Jr and Iryna Zarutzka. Fury is growing across the United States about the suspect's violent history and the nature of the attack

Meaghan Mobbs, the daughter of US special envoy to Russia and Ukraine Keith Kellogg, has led condemnation of the attack.

"Women in Ukraine endure unimaginable violence, with Russia using rape as a weapon of war," she said.

"Many fled here seeking safety and survival. Her murder is our failure. No woman should face such violence on American soil."

But Charlotte's Democrat Mayor thanked publications which kept the CCTV footage under wraps.

Mayor Vi Lyles said: "The video of the heartbreaking attack that took Iryna Zarutska's life is now public. I want to thank our media partners and community members who have chosen not to repost or share the footage out of respect for Iryna's family."

Ms Zarutska's friends have so far raised more than $60,000 (£44,000) for her family in a crowd-funding appeal - with some individuals giving more than $1,000 each.

"Our Valeria has suffered a terrible tragedy. Yesterday, her niece Ira, who was 23 years old, was killed," the fundraising page reads.

"Ira had recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning. Tragically, her life was cut short far too soon.

"This is an irreparable loss for her family. We have created this fundraiser to support Valeria and her loved ones during this heartbreaking time and to help them with the unexpected expenses."

Charlotte's Democrat Mayor Vi Lyles thanked publications which kept the CCTV footage under wraps

Frank McCormick, a former teacher-turned commentator on the state of US education, issued a chilling testimony following the release of the video.

"I was a public school teacher in the hood for 11 years, and I know this type of kid," Mr McCormick said on social media.

"The type that would smack the kid sitting in front of him, tell the teacher 'IDGAF' when corrected, and ruin an entire year's worth of learning for the entire class," he added. "He'd rarely receive any consequences."

"As a young adult, he'd walk the city behaving exactly as he did in school because he'd been socialised to learn there are zero consequences for his behaviour.

"Depending on the city, he'd probably get similar treatment from the cops and public afraid of creating a public scene that would lead to riots in their city.

"One day, he'd snap, and do something like this."