KYIV, Ukraine — A Ukrainian journalist working with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica was killed and his Italian colleague was injured on Wednesday after they got here below assault as they traveled to the town of Kherson in southern Ukraine, the newspaper reported.
Bogdan Bitik, who was working as an interpreter for the Italian journalist, Corrado Zunino, was killed in an assault on the gate to the town, “most certainly by Russian snipers,” the paper stated. Mr. Zunino was injured and is being handled at a hospital in Kherson.
Each journalists had in depth expertise protecting the warfare, La Repubblica reported, and had been clearly recognized as members of the information media.
“We handed three checkpoints, Bogdan talked to the Ukrainian army, and so they allow us to move with out issues,” Mr. Zunino informed the paper from his hospital mattress. “It wasn’t a combating zone. Then we acquired hit. I heard a hiss, and I noticed Bogdan on the bottom. He wasn’t transferring. I crawled out of the road of fireside. I ran till I handed a civilian automotive. I used to be filled with blood. I needed to be taken to Kherson hospital.”
He stated he had been attempting to contact Mr. Bitik however acquired no reply.
“He was a fantastic buddy of mine” Mr. Zunino stated. “It’s excruciating.”
La Repubblica stated the continued threats posed by Russian snipers made it troublesome to get well Mr. Bitik’s physique. His demise was confirmed by Ukrainian officers in public statements.
Ukrainian forces drove the Russians out of Kherson final fall, however the metropolis has come below close to every day bombardment by Russian forces positioned on the east financial institution of the Dnipro River. They’ve used long-range artillery, airstrikes, rockets, snipers, drones and different weapons to maintain the area below risk.
Dozens of civilians have been killed within the assaults in and across the metropolis for the reason that Ukrainians regained management over the realm.