KYIV: A Ukrainian journalist working as a fixer for Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper has been shot dead by snipers in Ukraine.
The newspaper said that Bogdan Bitik was working with Italian reporter Corrado Zunino, wounded when suspected Russian snipers ambushed them in the Kherson region. It added that both wore bulletproof vests with “Press” written on them. Russia said it had annexed Kherson despite controlling some of it.
The news reporters were targeted near the Antonivskyi bridge across the Dnipro River near Kherson, which sits on the river’s west bank. Russian military destroyed the bridge when they withdrew from the city in November. Ukrainian forces reportedly have set up positions on the eastern bank nearby.
Zunino said, The reporters had passed three checkpoints, and the Ukrainian troop had let them through “without a problem”,
He heard a “hiss” and saw his colleague lifelessly on the ground.
He said, “We’re hit. I saw Bogdan on the ground, and he wasn’t moving,” “I crawled until I got out of the line of fire. I ran until I came across a civilian’s car. I was covered in blood. I tried calling Bogdan many times, but he didn’t answer.” Zunino is being treated in a hospital in Kherson.
Bitik “unfortunately didn’t make it”, the newspaper wrote, adding that he leaves behind his son and a wife. Zunino said, “He was a great friend of mine. The hurt is excruciating,”
The newspaper said that it was proving difficult to recover Bitik’s body because of Russian snipers. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, told Italian media that the Russians were responsible for the killing.
He said, “Russians don’t care if you’re Russian, Italian or Ukrainian. They just shoot,” Moscow didn’t immediately comment.
19 reporters wounded
Before this death was announced, Reporters Without Borders said eight reporters had been killed and 19 wounded in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion the previous year. Crossing the Dnipro River could be important in future offensives. Ukraine’s troop has publicly spoken about preparations for a substantial counter-offensive without specifying where and when it could be launched.
Until now, all of the Kherson regions on the east bank of the Dnipro have been under Russian control, with the broad river as a natural barrier. President of Russia Vladimir Putin visited Moscow-controlled parts of Kherson last week.
