Veteran war photojournalist Pierre Zakrzewski has died after the vehicle he was traveling in came under fire near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
The attack on Monday also killed Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova, a 24-year-old Ukrainian journalist who was working as a consultant for the network at the time, and left Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall seriously injured.
Zakrzewski, 55, an Irish citizen, was a veteran photojournalist who had reported extensively from dangerous conflict zones for Fox News such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. He had been based in London and had been reporting from Ukraine since February.
“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we share the news this morning regarding our beloved cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski,” said Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott in a statement.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Pierre’s wife Michelle and family – please keep them all in your prayers.”
On Tuesday Scott remembered Zakrzewski as a journalist who was “profoundly committed to telling the story and his bravery, professionalism and work ethic were renowned among journalists at every media outlet.
“His passion and talent as a journalist were unmatched,” she added.
Scott described Zakrzewski’s talents as vast and said that there wasn’t a role that he didn’t jump in to help with in the field – from photographer to engineer to editor to producer. She said that he “did it all under immense pressure with tremendous skill.”
Scott said that Kuvshynova had been helping the network’s crews “navigate Kyiv and the surrounding area while gathering information and speaking to sources.
“She was incredibly talented and spent weeks working directly with our entire team there, operating around the clock to make sure the world knew what was happening in her country,” she said.
Tributes have been pouring in for both journalists.
Fox News anchor Bret Baier described the two journalists as “wonderful people” who “were lost on that battlefield.”
“This is a hard day,” he tweeted.
Foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, who has been reporting from Ukraine, also paid tribute to both journalists writing on Twitter about Sasha, “She was talented, well-sourced and witty. She liked photography, poetry, and music. We became fast friends over a shared love of coffee. She was 24 years old.”
He added: “Pierre was as good as they come. Selfless. Brave. Passionate. I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
He also retweeted an update on injured journalist Hall writing, “He is now safe and out of Ukraine. Ben is alert and in good spirits. He is being treated with the best possible care in the world and we are in close contact with his wife and family,” he wrote, citing Scott.
On Sunday another journalist Brent Renaud was also killed whilst working in Ukraine. The 50-year-old filmmaker was shot dead in the town of Irpin near to Kyiv, while he was on his way to film refugees for a Time Studios project, according to a statement from the news organization.
My heart goes out to the families of these two journalists who paid the ultimate price for reporting from the front lines. We thank you for your sacrifice. May you rest in peace.
