The world has been glued to the media since Feb. 24, 2022 as the horrific Ukraine & Russia war continues to destroy the lives of millions of Ukrainian families , killing innocent children and seeing make shift backyard burials created to place them in. It’s beyond atrocious on what is happening in Ukraine.
Close to five million displaced Ukrainian residents have already fled to Poland, bringing with them fear in their eyes, anxiety in their hearts and despair in their souls. Some have not been so lucky as hundred of children and families have been killed in the war. And that number will only climb as the devastation in Ukraine continues.
The tragedies of war reporting are no stranger to the hardworking and brave journalists who often risk their lives in bringing the facts and around the clock reporting on the devastation from the war torn countries. Some media professionals make it back home, some unfortunately, don’t.
On March 14, 2022, Ukrainian consultant and media personnel Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova , 24 years old, was tragically killed in Horenka, just outside Kyiv while in a car caught in cross fire. She was an excellent photographer, loved writing and reading poetry and enjoyed music.
Kuvshynova was working as a consultant helping crews and journalists navigate their way through the dangerous areas and helped with interpretation with interviews. She was consulting with the Fox News news when she was killed.
Along with Kuvshynova, Fox News iconic cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski, 55, was also killed in the same car.
Zakrzewski was an acclaimed international photojournalist who covered conflicts in war torn countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria for Fox News. He was considered to be the top war photographer in the business and the most sought after one as well. The proud Irishman leaves behind a loving wife and devoted family members.
Traveling along with Zakrewski was Fox News award-winning and highly-respected State Department correspondent Benjamin Hall who was seriously injured in the attack and was soon evacuated through the heroic efforts of Save Our Allies . Hall is back in the United States recovering from the attack. His injuries were very serious and Hall gave a full update on his twitter account. The rescue efforts were lead by renowned surgeon Dr. Richard Jadick.
Save Our Allies is God sent. Their mission is to rescue American citizens, permanent residents, SIV Holders, and other special populations from conflict zones and contested areas. They base their organization on four important principals: 1) Save 2) Settle 3) Serve 4) Support. Right now they are helping people from Ukraine and Afghanistan.
Well-known Ukrainian photographer Max Levin was found deceased near Kyiv where he had been documenting Russian war crimes for the international media. Levin was a brave and brilliant journalist who leaves behind four young children. He was 40 years old.
An award-winning brilliant filmmaker, photojournalist and reporter, Brent Renaud, 50, was shot and killed by Russian soldiers while reporting in a suburb of Kyiv. Renaud was known for his films dealing with humanistic stories from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. His 2005 series for the Discovery Channel Off to War, was truly thought provoking. A must see for all.
Award -winning journalist and author Sebastian Junger wrote an interesting article covering the dangers for war journalists, something all to familiar to him. Junger lost his good friend and British photojournalist Tim Herrington while on assignment in Libya in 2011. In the article, Junger shares his thoughts on the risks that war journalists and media professionals face when covering war stories for the media.
https://time.com/6158433/brent-renaud-death-journalist-risks/
The journey continues….and so does the risk and dangers for many, many brave and courageous media professionals.
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