Over the last couple of weeks, reports have come out of journalists enduring fire while on the ground in Ukraine reporting on the Russian invasion of the country. Reporters have dealt with injuries, but their lives were intact.
However, this past weekend, Ukraine’s Interior Ministry shared American freelance journalist Brent Renaud, who previously contributed to The New York Times, was killed in a Russian fire outside of Kyiv.
Renaud was shot and killed in Irpin, a suburb of Kyiv, which was confirmed by the director of Kyiv’s regional police force, Andriy Nebytov. The form Times contributor is the first American known to be killed, and the incident is sending shock waves.
Juan Arredondo, who was traveling with Renaud when the attack occurred, was hospitalized for his injuries discussed the incident with a reporter.
“We got into a car—somebody offered to take us to the other bridge, and we crossed the checkpoint and they [started] shooting at us,” Arredondo said. “So the driver turned around, and they kept shooting.”
Arredondo stated he saw Renaud get shot in the neck. Along with The Times, Renaud has worked for many American media outlets, including NBC and HBO.
Renaud was in Ukraine in recent weeks to work on “a Time Studios project focused on the global refugee crisis.”
“Our hearts are with all of Brent’s loved ones,” Time Magazine said to CNN. “It is essential that journalists are able to safely cover this ongoing invasion and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.”
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN that the killing is “obviously shocking and horrifying,” adding the U.S. will look to “measure and execute appropriate consequences.”
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
