Media in the crosshairs in Ukraine war: 5 journalists killed and 35 injured
The job of war correspondent is one of the most dangerous but also one of the most necessary professions. The phrase "the first casualty of war is the truth" makes sense when the first bombs begin to fall and disinformation begins to spread in favour of certain political interests.
Disproving fake news, videos and images from other contexts and even from other conflicts are some of the challenges facing journalists working in war zones. On the other hand, it is also essential to give a voice to those who suffer the horror of the attacks and to communicate in a humane way, since, as Ryszard Kapuscinski argued, "a bad person can never be a good journalist".
However, reporting on a conflict and its aftermath is a very high risk. Because of the danger of reporting the events as they occur during war, reporters are put in the spotlight.
In recent conflicts in the 21st century, we have witnessed journalists being killed for doing their job. Some were killed by terrorist groups, while others were eliminated by national armies. Marie Colvin, James Foley, José Couso or Tareq Ayyoub are just some of the hundreds of reporters who lost their lives for facilitating a right, the right to information.
The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine is another conflict where reporting carries a risk. "Truth is the traget". This is how the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence announced the deaths of cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova. The Fox News workers were killed in an attack on their vehicle on the outskirts of Kiev. Also in the car was reporter Benjamin Hall, who is hospitalised. According to the Ukrainian authorities, Hall suffered shrapnel wounds to both legs.
The death of Zakrzewski, who had extensive experience in countries including Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, was announced by Fox News chief executive Suzanne Scott. "Today is a heartbreaking day for Fox News Media and for all the journalists who risk their lives to report the news," she said. "Zakrzewski's passion and talent as a journalist were unparalleled. His courage, professionalism and work ethic were recognised among journalists in all media," she added.
Scott also dedicated a few words to Kuvshynova, whom she described as "incredibly talented". "Several of our correspondents and producers spent long days with her and got to know her personally, describing her as hard-working, funny, kind and brave," she added. Trey Yingst, a correspondent for the US media outlet, was one of the people who worked alongside the young Ukrainian. "She was talented, resourceful and witty. She loved photography, poetry and music. She was 24 years old," Yingst recalled.
Kuvshynova also worked as a fixer for the Fox News team. For this reason, social networks have been filled with messages reminding us of the importance of these local journalists who also act as translators and guides.
"It is time to recognise once and for all that fixers are essential workers for Western media. Conflict coverage would not be possible without them," wrote Paulina Milewska, a media expert and lawyer, on Twitter.
VICE News correspondent Ben C. Solomon stressed that foreign journalists would be "nothing without local contributors". Spanish journalist Mikel Ayestaran thanked Kuvshynova "and all the Ukrainians who are risking their lives these days working with the foreign press".
Zakrzewski and Kuvshynova bring to five the number of journalists killed in the war in Ukraine, which is entering its 21st day. Brent Renaud, an American freelance journalist and film director, was killed last weekend. Alongside him was photojournalist Juan Arredondo, who was injured.
Arredondo explained from hospital that they were shot at as they were passing through a checkpoint in Irpin, near Kiev. The aim of the reporters was to film citizens leaving the city, as Renaud was working on a documentary about refugees.
Renaud was the first foreign journalist to be killed in Ukraine. Previously, however, two Ukrainian journalists were killed while doing their job. Evgeny Sakun, a cameraman for Kiev Live TV died on 1 March after Russian troops shelled the capital's television tower. "Attacking journalists is a war crime," denounced Reporters Without Borders. His compatriot Viktor Dudar was killed while covering the fighting near Mikolaiv.
In addition to those killed, at least 35 journalists have been injured, according to Liudmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian parliament's human rights commissioner. "The Russian occupiers are fighting against objective coverage of their war crimes in Ukraine," she said.
Denisova also claimed that vehicles marked as "press" have been attacked. Among the wounded, according to the Ukrainian authorities, are Swiss journalist Guillaume Bricke; two reporters from the Czech edition of Voxpot, Maida Slamova and Vojtech Bogach; two Danish correspondents for Ekstra Bladet, Stefan Weichert and Emil Filtenborg Mikkelsen; and Sky News chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay.
"The killing and bombing of journalists is a grave violation of the Hague Conventions and Declarations, the Geneva Convention for the Protection of War Victims and its Additional Protocols," Denisova recalled.
