American Journalists Killed In Ukraine
Ukraine – Two American journalists were fired upon by Russian forces in the town of Irpin. One of whom, Brent Renaud, a 50-year-old filmmaker, was killed when Russian troops opened fire, according to Andriy Nebytov, the head of Kyiv’s regional police force. A graphic photo allegedly of Renaud’s body, passport, and press credentials were posted online by Nebytov.
Less than a week later 2 Fox News journalists were killed by Russian forces. Pierre Zakrzewski and Oleksandra Kuvshinova were killed in Kyiv
According to CBS News, A spokeswoman for the Times said Renaud was “a talented filmmaker who had contributed to The New York Times over the years,” most recently in 2015, but he “was not on assignment for any desk at The Times in Ukraine.” TIME issued a statement later Sunday confirming that Renaud had been “in the region working on a TIME Studios project focused on the global refugee crisis.”
Juan Arredondo, another documentary filmmaker, was injured in the same attack. “Somebody offered to take us to the other bridge, and we crossed a checkpoint, and they started shooting at us. So the driver turned around, and they kept shooting, two of us. My friend is Brent Renaud, and he’s been shot and left behind,” said Arredondo, who is also American. “I saw him being shot in the neck, and we got split, and I got pulled”. Arredondo said that he and Braun were on their way to film people leaving Kyiv.
Fox News CEO Suzane Scott released a statement on the deaths of the journalist employed by Fox News. Stating that it was a “heartbreaking day for the organization”.
“Pierre was a war zone photographer who covered nearly every international story for Fox News from Iraq to Afghanistan to Syria during his long tenure with us,” she said.
National security correspondent for Fox News, Jennifer Griffin, said Zakrzewski was “wildly popular” and “profoundly committed to telling the story”.
It is unclear what will happen now that it is clear that journalists are being targeted in Ukraine by Russian forces. More journalists from other nations have also died in the fighting. Direct retaliation by the U.S military seems equally unwise as it is unlikely, and little aid can be given while remaining a non-warring party. It is a dark day for journalism across the globe.
