The occupying forces are fighting against objective coverage of their war crimes in Ukraine, shelling and killing journalists to suppress the free flow of information. At least 35 journalists have been injured, three have been killed, announced Lyudmila Denisova the Verkhovna Rada’s Commissioner for Human Rights.
Viktor Dudar was was killed covering the fighting in Mykolayiv, Cameraman Yevhen Sakun was killed in Kyiv during a rocket attack, and American Brent Renaud was shot and killed at a checkpoint in Irpin, Kyiv oblast.
Many journalists have been targeted and wounded, according to Denisova. Russian troops near Mykolayiv shot at Swiss journalist Guillaume Bricke who was riding in an armored vehicle marked “Press”.
Two Czech journalists, Maida Slamova and Vojtech Bogach, from Voxpot news and two Danish Ekstra-Bladet correspondents, journalist Stefan Weichert and photographer and reporter Emil Filtenborg Mikkelsen, were also targeted by Russian troops.
Russian troops have also attacked members of the British television group Sky News. Chief correspondent Stuart Ramsey and his four colleagues were ambushed on their way back to Kyiv. Ramsey was hit in the back by a bullet and cameraman Richie Mokler, who was wearing a bullet proof vest was shot twice.
Russian troops have also been targeting Ukraine’s television infrastructure. They have attempted to destroy TV towers in Kyiv, Lutsk, and Rivne and have seized TV towers and television studios in occupied cities.
“The actions taken by the occupiers is meant to suppress information and imposing racist propaganda and ideology. The killing and shooting of journalists a gross violation of the Hague Convention and Declaration, the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Victims of War and its Additional Protocols, and the Convention on the Laws and Customs of Land Warfare, which provide security guarantees for journalists,» Denisova said.