Support The Moscow Times!

Italian Journalist and Russian Colleague Reported Killed in Ukraine

Members of the Ukrainian security services stand near a armoured personnel carrier at a checkpoint near the town of Slovyansk, east Ukraine. Baz Ratner / Reuters

An Italian journalist and his Russian translator have been killed in fighting between pro-Russian forces and Ukrainian government troops in eastern Ukraine, the Italian Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

The bodies of Andrea Rocchelli, a freelance photographer who worked with the Cesura photographers' collective, and his colleague, Andrey Mironov, were taken to a hospital in the town of Slavyansk.

An earlier statement issued by the ministry identified the journalist as Andrea Ronchelli.

Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini said she would be speaking to her Ukrainian counterpart to ascertain what happened in the incident.

Separately, French freelance journalist William Roguelon, who had been traveling with Rocchelli and his translator, said the group came under fire on the outskirts of the eastern town on Saturday afternoon.

"We went to the area because there had been a bombing next to a neighborhood. So, there was nothing when we arrived. We were an Italian journalist, a fixer, a driver," Roguelon, who was wounded in the attack, told reporters at Slavyansk hospital.

"After we arrived we got shot at, we threw ourselves in a ditch, after they shot at least 40 shells onto us and the vehicle."

Roguelon said Rocchelli and Mironov were hit by mortar fire between rebels and Ukrainian troops while he himself had walked off along the road looking for help.

He said he did not know for certain whether the two men were dead when he last saw them but he said they were not moving.

"They were on the ground," he said.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more