Reuters Journalist Found Dead After Missile Attack in Eastern Ukraine

A British journalist has been found dead beneath the rubble following a Russian missile strike on the “Sapphire” hotel in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine. The journalist, believed to be a correspondent for Reuters, was killed when Russian forces launched a missile attack on the city.

The incident was confirmed by Oleksandr Honcharenko, the head of the Kramatorsk Military-Civil Administration, as well as by the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office. Honcharenko announced: “Rescue workers have recovered the body of the deceased from the rubble.” Earlier reports indicated that six individuals had been injured in the attack, one of whom was in critical condition.

The attack occurred late on 24th August 2024, when a Russian missile—likely an “Iskander-M”—targeted a residential area in Kramatorsk, according to the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office. The missile struck the Sapphire hotel, causing extensive destruction. Rescue teams later uncovered the body of a British national, thought to be a journalist, beneath the wreckage of the building.

In addition to the fatality, six people sustained injuries of varying severity, four of whom were foreign journalists. The injured reporters, aged 38, 40, 41, and 46, are from various international media outlets and include nationals from Ukraine, the United States, Latvia, and Germany. They suffered a range of blast-related injuries, including concussions, brain injuries, broken limbs, and contusions. The injured also include two local women, aged 32 and 34, who were in their homes when the missile struck.

Reports indicate that earlier in the day, Vadym Filashkin, the head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, had confirmed that four Reuters journalists were among the injured. Additionally, concerns were raised at the time regarding the possible presence of a British journalist under the rubble.

Reuters confirmed that one of their team members had gone missing following the attack in Kramatorsk. The agency released a statement expressing concern for their colleague and stating that efforts were being made to establish their whereabouts.

The strike in Kramatorsk came as part of continued military aggression by Russian forces in Ukraine. The missile attacks on residential areas in the east of the country have led to a growing number of civilian casualties, particularly in regions close to the front lines. The death of the British journalist highlights the risks faced by reporters covering the ongoing war, as both Ukrainian and international journalists regularly work in dangerous conditions to document the war.

Image: STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE

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