Two journalists, an Irish Fox News cameraman and a Ukrainian woman accompanying him, were killed near kyiv in Ukraine on Monday in an attack which also left one of the team of the American television channel injured, the latter citing a “heartbreaking day” for journalists covering the war in Ukraine. Pierre Zakrzewski “was killed in Horenka, near kyiv,” Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that he was with reporter Benjamin Hall on Monday “when their vehicle was targeted by shots”.
Ukrainian journalist also killed
According to local media and press advocacy organizations, Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshinova, who was accompanying them, was also killed. The day before, Fox News had announced that Benjamin Hall, a Briton who usually covers the State Department, had been injured in this attack and hospitalized. The channel had not mentioned other victims.
Based in London, Pierre Zakrzewski was a regular in theaters of war – Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria – and had been in Ukraine since February. He was rewarded in December by Fox News, in particular for having “played a key role in the evacuation of our Afghan freelancers and their families after the American withdrawal” from the country, underlined Suzanne Scott. Pierre Zakrzewski “risks his life in conflict zones to report for Fox News. He produces, edits and films without rest and under immense pressure”, explained the channel at the time, praising his “invaluable knowledge” and his “impeccable work ethic”.
Irish Prime Minister ‘shocked and sad’
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he was “deeply shocked and saddened by the death of Irish citizen and journalist Pierre Zakrzewski”, in a message on Twitter. He also condemned “this blind and immoral war of Russia against Ukraine”. On Twitter, Reporters Without Borders called on belligerents “not to make journalists targets of war”.
The International Press Institute, a press freedom organization based in Vienna, called on “military forces to do everything in their power to ensure the safety of journalists”. They are “considered civilians under international humanitarian law,” the IPI said in a statement.
Another journalist still hospitalized
“It’s a heartbreaking day for Fox News Media and for all journalists risking their lives to inform,” said Suzanne Scott on Tuesday, adding that Benjamin Hall remained hospitalized in Ukraine. He was injured in the legs by shrapnel and placed in intensive care, according to Ukrainian Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova. Pierre Zakrzewski is the fifth journalist, and the second foreigner, killed since the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine on February 24.
American Brent Renaud was shot and killed on Sunday in the northwestern suburbs of kyiv. Before Oleksandra Kuvshinova, the Ukrainian journalist Yevgeny Sakoun was killed in the bombardment of the television tower in kyiv and his colleague Viktor Doudar perished during fighting near Mykolaiv (south), according to the Ukrainian authorities who also counted more than 30 wounded among members of the press covering the conflict.
At least 636 civilians have been killed in Ukraine, according to the latest UN count, which stresses that its tolls are probably much lower than the reality. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday spoke of a death toll of 97 children in a speech to the Canadian parliament.