Fox News journalists killed, how many journalists have Russia shot in Ukraine?
The past few days have been a poignant reminder of just how dangerous it can be to work in a war zone as a journalist with three deaths in as many days.
On Tuesday, Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott in a memo to colleagues announced that long-time network cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski had been killed near Kyiv. The car he and fellow news crew members were travelling in came under fire while near the village of Horenka, outside of Kyiv according to the statement.
Although the statement from Scott only announced the death of Zakrzewski, Fox News journalists and Ukrainian officials report that Ukrainian producer Oleksandra Kuvshynova who was working with the Fox crew also died in the attack. Fellow Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall was injured in the attack northwest of Kyiv and is now recovering from his injuries.
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These latest three casualties add to a growing list of journalists and civilians that have been caught in the crossfire of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The indiscriminate assault by Russian forces has drawn condemnation and calls for the invasion to cease.
At least three dozen journalist injured in Russian invasion of Ukraine
On Tuesday, Ukrainian parliament’s human rights chief Lyudmyla Denisova posted on Facebook a list of journalists that have come under attack while documenting the continuing invasion of Ukraine. The post came prior to the announcement by Fox of their own tragic losses. At the time of the post at least 35 journalists had been injured according to Denisova.
The death toll for journalists has now reached five. The first fatality, cameraman Yevhen Sakun, came on 1 March when a Russian missile attack struck the Kyiv television tower. That attack resulted in four other deaths and five wounded. The second fatality came a week later, journalist Victor Dudar was killed during hostilities near Mykolaiv, a besieged city in the southern Ukraine.
The third was reported on Sunday, after two American journalist were shot at when they were crossing a checkpoint in Irpin, a suburb west of Kyiv. That attack resulted in videographer Brent Renaud being killed and photojournalist Juan Arredondo wounded. Arredondo was taken to a Ukrainian hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
Dozens of journalist injured despite “PRESS” markings
Since the Russians invaded Ukraine 24 February numerous journalists have been attacked which is a violation of the Geneva Convention and other laws which provide security guarantees for journalists.
Russian forces have wounded a reporter from British television group Sky News while another was saved by his bulletproof vest, as well two Danish Ekstra-Bladet correspondents have been hit by Russian bullets. They have also shot at a news crew from Al-Araby TV, two Czech reporters and a Swiss journalist. All were travelling in vehicles with the marking of "PRESS" on them.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), journalists “enjoy the full scope of protection granted to civilians under international humanitarian law.” Those protections for journalists are in place “as long as they do not take a direct part in the hostilities.” Journalists are protected even if they are creating propaganda except when “used for military purposes or to incite war crimes, genocide or acts of violence.”
“I call on international human rights organizations to take all possible measures to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to end military aggression against Ukraine,” Denisova wrote.