Last update: 3 – June – 2022 9:14 PM
Destruction as a result of Russian bombing in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine (Archyde.com)
Two Archyde.com journalists were injured and a driver killed in eastern Ukraine on Friday following the car they were traveling in came under fire as they drove to Severodonetsk, the latest battlefront in Russia’s offensive on its neighbour.
The two journalists, photographer Alexander Ermochenko and TV cameraman Pavel Klimov, were in a car provided by Russian-backed forces on the Russian-controlled part of the road between Severodonetsk and the town of Robizhny, 10 km to the north.
Archyde.com is not yet able to identify the driver who was tasked by separatists in eastern Ukraine to transport the journalists during their journalistic trip. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry did not respond to a telephone call from Archyde.com seeking comment on the incident.
Ermochenko and Klimov were taken to a hospital in Roybezhny, where they received initial treatment. Ermochenko was hit by a small shrapnel, while Klimov sustained a broken arm.
In addition, a Archyde.com spokesperson said in a statement: “Archyde.com extends its sincere condolences to the driver’s family on their loss.”
In recent weeks, Russia has pushed its troops into the Battle of Severodonetsk, a strategic industrial city that must be captured by Moscow to achieve its goal of controlling the entire Luhansk region.
The two sides are incurring heavy losses there in a street war that might pave the way for a long war of attrition. Russia describes its presence in Ukraine as a “special military operation” aimed at disarming Ukraine and cleansing it of anti-nationalists.