Tragic consequences of russia’s missile attack on Kramatorsk: a British journalist killed, foreign and Ukrainian media workers injured

On August 24, 2024, Ukraine’s Independence Day, russian troops launched a missile attack on the Sapphire Hotel in Kramatorsk, where journalists were staying. As a result of the attack, a British media worker was killed, and several other journalists were injured.

According to Reuters, their security adviser, 38-year-old British man Ryan Evans, was killed. As the British newspaper The Guardian notes, “Evans is a former British military man who has worked with Reuters since 2022. Advised the agency’s journalists on security in Ukraine, Israel, and the Olympics in Paris.”

Reuters, in its statement, emphasizes: “Ryan has helped many of our journalists cover events around the world; we will miss him very much.”

According to the investigative data provided by the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office, “on August 24, 2024, at 10:35 p.m., russian troops probably hit the city of Kramatorsk with an Iskander-M missile. The occupiers targeted a residential quarter, where two journalists of a foreign media, aged 38 and 40, were injured in the territory of a destroyed local hotel. They were diagnosed with a mine-explosive injury, brain contusion, leg fracture, contusion, and cuts on the body.”

According to the police report, “Among the injured are four reporters: citizens of the United States, Germany, Latvia, and Ukraine. Besides, the victims of the attack were two town residents. The police, rescuers, and other services worked at the scene of the attack.”

TSN front-line journalist Nataliya Nahorna emotionally reacted to the event in her post on Facebook: “Yes, an Iskander [missile] hit the hotel in Kramatorsk. Yes, journalists stayed there. One person is still missing. No, it wasn’t us. Russians are morons.”

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) reports that Ryan Evans has become the 17^th media worker to die in the line of duty since the start of the full-scale russian invasion. In total, according to the NUJU, the occupiers killed at least 94 media workers (including civilian victims and those mobilized into the ranks of the defense forces).

The NUJU strongly condemns this yet another attack by russian invaders on civilian infrastructure used by journalists and humanitarian workers in front-line areas. Such actions are a war crime and a gross violation of international humanitarian law.

The Union calls on the international community to increase pressure on russia to end its barbaric attacks on civilians and members of the media. It extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Ryan Evans.

NUJU Information Service