(haipo) A shocking murder in Haifa shook the city at the end of September: Yanina (Yonit) Russinova, only 31 years old, was stabbed to death in the stairwell of her apartment building in the lower city. On Thursday, 08/10/2026, Yanina Russinova's body was flown to Belarus, where she will be buried next to her grandmother. This would not have happened without a fight aimed at preventing Yanina's burial in Haifa, far from her family.
Her husband, Ali Masved, was arrested on the day of the murder and his detention has since been extended on suspicion of committing the murder. Yanina left behind a two-month-old baby, who was left an orphan of her mother. Beyond the geographical boundaries of the tragedy, a heartbreaking struggle is now underway by her mother, Anna, who lives in Belarus, as she tries to save her little grandson and preserve her daughter's memory.
Autopsy findings strengthen suspicion of murder
The autopsy findings of Yanina Russinova significantly strengthened the suspicion that her husband stabbed her to death. She was found lying in the stairwell, suffering from serious injuries to her upper body. MDA teams called to the scene performed CPR and evacuated her to Rambam Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The suspect, Ali Maswad, 28, was immediately arrested. The Haifa Magistrate's Court extended his detention several times, with the latest extension until today (Sunday, October 11), after the police presented new evidence in the case.
Five days of silence: The mother found out about the murder too late
Yanina was not surrounded by family in Israel. Her mother, Anna, lives in Belarus, and no one informed her about the murder in real time. Only five days after the event did she learn of her daughter's death, through Lili Ben Ami, CEO and founder of the Michal Sala Forum.
Ben Ami says the shock was immense. “Anna knew nothing. She was waiting for a call from her daughter, and when she didn’t receive one, she thought she was busy with the baby. She didn’t even consider the terrible possibility.”
The Michal Sala Forum enters the picture
The Michal Sala Forum, which works to prevent violence against women and assist families of murder victims, immediately stepped in. The forum members accompanied the heartbroken mother to government offices, the police, and the consulate, helping her overcome complex bureaucratic obstacles.
Thanks to their intervention, the mother was able to bring Yanina's body to be buried in Belarus, near her grandmother. The Jewish Agency helped finance the flight and transport the body.
The next fight: the baby's future
Now another, no less difficult, struggle is underway. The two-and-a-half-month-old baby is in emergency foster care in Israel under the care of welfare authorities. Anna, his grandmother, is seeking to adopt him and raise him alongside her in Belarus.
Lily Ben Ami explains that this is a particularly complex procedure: “Anna is not an Israeli citizen, so there are many challenges here. We assigned her a Russian-speaking lawyer from the Sena Center of the Ministry of Justice. She is willing to do everything to receive the grandchild.”
Testimonies from her friends: “She remained optimistic, but suffered from violence”
As the days pass, more testimonies from Yanina's close friends are revealed. They describe a smiling, funny, beautiful, and lively woman. But behind the optimistic exterior, a difficult reality hid.
One of the friends says that the murder suspect was extremely jealous, possessed and violent, and even beat Yanina just two weeks before the murder. “He was angry with anyone who tried to help her,” she says. “He threatened to take the baby away from her.”
Another friend adds that Yanina tried to maintain a calm routine, but was very scared. “She told me she was scared of him. That she didn’t know what to do. She was alone in the country, without family.”
Does the mother want to testify before the police?
Anna, Yanina's mother, is seeking to provide the police with significant information about things her daughter told her in the last months of her life. The Michal Sala forum explains that the mother has testimony that could help substantiate the indictment against the suspect.
Despite her request, the police have not yet allowed her to officially testify. The forum continues to work to make the testimony possible.
Michal Sala Forum Activity: Life-Saving Technology
The Michal Sala Forum works to prevent violence against women using advanced technological tools, artificial intelligence, and the prediction of risky situations. The forum provides technological protective suits to threatened women, supports families of victims, and spreads critical awareness to the public.
The forum’s experts emphasize that breaking up with an abusive partner is the most dangerous step. “You can’t do it alone,” they say. “The first step is to confidentially contact professionals or the Ministry of Social Affairs’ 118 hotline.”
Warning signs: what to recognize
The forum has mapped out five key warning signs for identifying a dangerous relationship:
- obsession
- Two-faced relationship
- Extreme smallness
- Hypersensitivity
- Martyr Syndrome
According to forum members, early identification of these signs can save lives.
Murder figures in Israel: A worrying trend
According to data from the Michal Sala Forum and the Israel Police, in 2025, 44 women were murdered in Israel, 29 of whom were murdered by a partner or family member. As of these months of 2026, 16 women have already been murdered within the family or by their partners.
The data indicate a worrying trend and an urgent need to implement preventive and protective measures.
Yanina's body was flown to Belarus
On Thursday, 08/10/2026, Yanina Rusinova’s body was flown to Belarus, where she will be buried next to her grandmother. Her infant son is still in emergency foster care in Israel. “The big challenge is still ahead of us,” Ben Ami wrote. “Anna is ready to do everything to receive him.”
Who was Yanina Russinova?
Yanina was born in the city of Homiel, Belarus. She completed a degree in teaching history and social sciences and her friends say she was a smart, creative woman who loved to learn and teach. She immigrated to Israel hoping to build a new life, but found herself isolated, without a family, and dealing with severe violence.
No one helped the late Yanina, but the only consolation left is to locate the girl in time, who is suffering from violence today, and prevent the next murder.
I really hope you don't intend to comfort the murderer's Muslim family...
That's how it is, Arabs are always cruel to those who are weaker than them.
Women, children, animals…
And when they receive an appropriate response, they immediately run away crying and claim that they are being spanked.
It seems that Haifa doesn't filter comments here.
You enjoy being racist, huh?
A tragic case and that's what you have to say...
Instead of comforting and supporting the family.
Sucks.