Julianna quit her job to rebuild homes in a war zone. She died in an Airbnb in Ukraine

An Australian charity worker and her Irish partner died in a house fire in Ukraine, prompting a criminal investigation into the safety standards of the rental property where they perished. Julianna Rozek, 34, and Darren Martyn were found dead in a cottage in the village of Litochky, located approximately one hour from Kyiv, in the early hours of September 6. Both individuals were volunteers for Repair Together, an organization dedicated to repairing and cleaning up villages recently liberated from Russian occupation. They had rented the Airbnb accommodation for a brief weekend visit and were likely asleep when the fire broke out shortly after 4 am. Serhii Bolvinov, the head of investigations for the national police in Ukraine’s Kyiv region, confirmed that a criminal case has been opened regarding the incident. Early findings suggest that carbon monoxide poisoning was the primary cause of death for both victims. Emergency responders identified a wood-burning stove within the cottage as a potential source of the blaze. Bolvinov stated that authorities are currently examining whether fire safety regulations were breached at the site. He noted that the specific building had not been officially commissioned or formally placed into operation. Consequently, it is difficult to assert that fire safety protocols in that structure received approval from any Ukrainian law enforcement agency or government body. Police investigators are scrutinizing this lack of formal certification as part of their ongoing inquiry. The owner of the property, identified as Chad Gracia, a documentary filmmaker based in New York, was interviewed by police. In a 2024 interview with the travel publication Escape Artist, Gracia described converting a plot of land purchased for $12,000 in Kyiv Oblast into a profitable Airbnb side business. He indicated plans to maintain the venture even after the conflict concludes. Representatives for the media outlet attempted to contact Gracia for comment but did not receive a response. Authorities have not suggested that Gracia bears personal responsibility for the deaths, noting instead that the investigation focuses on the safety compliance of the Airbnb registered under his name. Rozek, who was born in Lviv, spent the majority of her adult life in Melbourne’s inner northern suburbs before permanently relocating to Ukraine in 2024. Prior to moving abroad, she commenced a doctoral thesis at RMIT University focusing on human usage patterns along the Moonee Ponds Creek waterway. Friends described her as an energetic and deeply principled individual who deviated from conventional career trajectories. Sasha Sheko, a close friend, remarked that Rozek possessed an intense focus on her interests, often becoming an expert in whatever subject captured her attention. Sheko highlighted Rozek’s sociability, intelligence, and strong moral compass. Jessica O’Riley, who first met Rozek in 2017 through a mutual acquaintance, recalled reconnecting with her during the pandemic era. O’Riley remembered long drives across the city and conversations held on Rozek’s couch in their shared Brunswick residence until late at night. She characterized Rozek as warm and fun-loving, particularly noting her eagerness to share her cultural heritage following the start of the war. Rozek frequently organized fundraising activities for Ukraine, including hosting cooking classes to teach friends how to prepare traditional dumplings. For her 30th birthday, she hosted a fundraiser featuring a large papier-mâché piñata shaped like the face of Vladimir Putin, requiring guests to donate money to strike the object. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Rozek abandoned her comfortable lifestyle in Melbourne to return to her homeland. She immediately began volunteering at a food kitchen in Lviv. Subsequently, she engaged in efforts to reconstruct damaged housing in areas affected by the conflict. Her commitment to humanitarian aid defined her final years, leading her to work directly in war-affected zones despite the dangers. The tragedy occurred while she and Martyn were participating in these reconstruction efforts, having taken a short break at the rented cottage. The police investigation continues to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the fatal fire and the subsequent failure of emergency systems within the uncommissioned building.