Russian newspaper says its reporter killed by Ukraine drone strike
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Russia has described the death of an Izvestia reporter in a Ukraine drone strike as a "deliberate murder." Photo: AP PHOTO.
Russian state newspaper Izvestia has reported the death of one of its freelance reporters, Alexander Martemyanov, following a drone strike near the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Moscow has accused Ukraine’s military of deliberately targeting the journalist, though Ukraine has not responded to the claims.
According to Izvestia, Martemyanov was traveling in a civilian vehicle on a highway within a Russian-controlled area when the drone strike hit. The vehicle was returning from covering recent shelling in the city of Gorlivka, which, like Donetsk, has been under Russian occupation. The news outlet confirmed that five other media workers were injured in the attack.
The Ukrainian military, as of now, has not issued a comment on the incident. However, Russia’s state news agency, RIA, added that two of its journalists were also wounded during the strike. Izvestia described the attack on its reporter’s vehicle as deliberate, emphasizing that the vehicle was far from the frontlines of the conflict, which suggests it was not directly involved in military operations.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, condemned the attack, calling it a “deliberate murder.” Zakharova referred to it as “another brutal crime in a series of bloody atrocities” committed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government. The Foreign Ministry’s rhetoric reflects the heightened political and military tensions between Russia and Ukraine, especially as media coverage of the war has often been a focal point of the conflict.
The attack is particularly notable because it comes amid a broader crackdown on Russian media in the European Union. In May 2022, the EU imposed bans on Russian state-run media outlets, including Izvestia and RIA, accusing them of spreading Russian propaganda and supporting Moscow’s war of aggression in Ukraine. These bans were part of a wider effort by the EU to limit Russian influence and prevent the spread of disinformation related to the war.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has raised concerns over the safety of journalists covering the conflict in Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, at least 15 journalists have been killed while reporting on the war. This ongoing violence against the press has sparked international outrage, with many organizations calling for greater protection of journalists in conflict zones.
The death of Martemyanov is the latest tragic incident involving journalists caught in the crossfire of the war. Journalists working in both Russia and Ukraine have faced considerable risks while covering the conflict, with several having been killed, injured, or detained. Media freedom has been severely restricted in Russia, where the government has imposed stringent laws limiting coverage of the invasion, while Ukraine has been praised for its efforts to maintain press freedom, even amid the ongoing war.
As for Martemyanov, he was part of a larger network of freelance journalists covering the war from the Russian perspective. Freelance journalists often face particular risks, as they are not always afforded the same protections as those working with large media organizations. However, the role of these freelancers remains vital in documenting the realities of war, often providing firsthand accounts from the frontline. Their work is critical in shedding light on the human cost of the conflict, whether it involves civilians caught in the violence or military operations on both sides.
While the attack has deepened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, it is also a reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones around the world. The international community has continued to call for accountability and protection for media workers who risk their lives to report on the war. In the case of Martemyanov’s death, questions remain about the deliberate targeting of journalists and the broader implications it holds for media coverage of the war in Ukraine. The loss of any journalist, particularly in such circumstances, serves as a stark reminder of the toll the conflict continues to take on those who strive to inform the world.
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