Award-winning American journalist, 50, is shot dead by Russian troops in Kyiv suburb and his wounded colleague is hospitalized
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10608037/New-York-Times-journalist-51-shot-dead-Russian-troops-Ukraine.html?ito=social-twitter_dailymailus
An American freelance filmmaker has been shot dead by Russian troops while filming refugees in Irpin, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
Brent Renaud, 50, was in a car with other journalists in Irpin, near Kyiv, when Russian troops opened fire. He was shot dead and one of his colleagues was injured.
Initially, he was thought to have been on assignment for The New York Times because he was carrying a press badge that listed the newspaper as his publication but it has since emerged he was working on a global film about refugees.
Renaud’s death was announced by Andrey Nebitov, the head of Kyiv’s police department, who said in a Facebook post that he paid ‘with his life for trying to highlight the aggressor’s ingenuity, cruelty and ruthlessness.’ He also shared a video, taken by a police officer at the scene, who said a third journalist was wounded.
Another US journalist who survived the attack spoke to a reporter for Italian paper Internazionale from the hospital.
Juan Arredondo said Renaud had been shot in the neck and ‘had to be left behind’.
‘We had crossed the first bridge in Irpin. We were going to film other refugees leaving we got into a car. Somebody offered to take us to the other bridge. We crossed a checkpoint and they started shooting at us. The driver turned around, there were two of us. My friend is Brent Renaud. He has been shot and left behind. I saw he has been shot in the neck. We got split,’ he said.
The White House has not yet commented on Renaud’s death but National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called it ‘shocking and horrifying.’ He said the US would consult with Ukrainian officials about what to do next.
It remains unclear if Biden will retaliate against Putin. Earlier on Sunday, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said Putin is finally starting to show signs of ‘willingness’ to negotiate to end the war but that up until now he has seemed ‘intent on destroying Ukraine’.
‘It is one more example of the brutality of Vladimir Putin and his forces as they target schools, mosques, hospitals and journalists.
‘It is why we are working so hard to impose severe consequences on him and to try to help Ukrainians with every type of military assistance we can muster to be able to push back against the onslaught of these Russian forces.’
PBS reporter Jane Ferguson, who is in Ukraine, tweeted: ‘Just left roadside spot near Irpin where body of American journalist Brent Renaud lay under a blanket. Ukrainian medics could do nothing to help him by that stage.
‘Outraged Ukrainian police officer: “Tell America, tell the world, what they did to a journalist.”’
The Times has issued a statement to clarify that while Renaud worked for them in the past, he was not in Ukraine on assignment for them.
‘We are deeply saddened to hear of Brent Renaud’s death. Brent was a talented photographer and filmmaker who contributed to The New York Times over the years.
‘Early reports that he worked for The Times circulated because he was wearing a Times press badge that had been issued for an assignment many years ago,’ Cliff Levy, Deputy Managing Editor, said in a statement.
He added: ‘Brent’s death is a terrible loss.
‘Brave journalists like Brent take tremendous risks to bear witness and to tell the world about the devastation and suffering caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.’
The White House has not commented on Renaud’s death.
President Biden has taken a firm stance on not sending American troops into the conflict.
He has instead sanctioned Putin economically, along with the rest of the Western world, and has given Zelensky arms and aid.
On February 15, he warned: ‘We are not seeking direct confrontation with Russia, though I have been clear that if Russia targets Americans in Ukraine, we will respond forcefully.’
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