Reuters Safety Adviser Killed in Russian Missile Strike on Kramatorsk Hotel

A Reuters safety adviser tragically lost his life in a Russian missile attack on a hotel in Kramatorsk, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by journalists and media personnel in conflict zones.

Ryan Evans, who worked as a safety adviser at Reuters, has been pronounced deceased following the impact of a Russian missile on his lodging along with five other members of the news agency in Kramatorsk, an eastern Ukrainian city.

On Sunday, in a statement released by Reuters, it was confirmed that Evans – a former British soldier aged 38 years old – had passed away.

According to the statement, two journalists from its staff sustained injuries during the incident – with one of them in a serious condition and both receiving medical attention at a hospital. Fortunately, there were no reported harms inflicted on the remaining three individuals comprising of their team.

According to Reuters, we are actively seeking additional details about the assault through collaboration with the authorities in Kramatorsk. Additionally, we are providing aid and assistance to our colleagues as well as their loved ones under these circumstances of urgency.

Since 2022, Evans has been collaborating with Reuters as a safety advisor to its journalists worldwide, providing guidance for their well-being in areas such as Ukraine, Israel and the Paris Olympics.

Reuters expressed their sincere condolences and sympathies to Ryan’s family and loved ones. He played an instrumental role in enabling many of the agency’s journalists to report on global events, which makes his loss all the more profound.

A ballistic missile known as Iskander, capable of striking targets up to 500km (310 miles) away, was reported by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to have hit the hotel. The missile is believed to be Russian in origin.

Zelenskyy stated in his Sunday evening speech that the Russian Iskander deliberately targeted and destroyed a regular city hotel, expressing sympathy for those who have been affected by this tragedy.

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At 10:35pm (19:35 GMT) on Saturday, it was reported by Ukrainian prosecutors that the hotel had been struck and that the adjacent building suffered damage as well.

Situated approximately 20km (13 miles) away from the front line, Kramatorsk is presently the only significant city under Ukrainian jurisdiction in its eastern Donetsk region. This site frequently serves as a headquarters for aid personnel and reporters coming from overseas.

Natalia, a 66-year-old woman who was in tears, recounted to the news agency that while she was watching a movie on her phone, there suddenly came a loud sound and the glass started shattering.

After a similar experience, she was evacuated once before but chose to return. However, now she’s considering leaving again and will give it some thought.

“It’s frightening to go to sleep,” she spoke, with her tone quivering.

Vasily, an 84-year-old resident living near the hotel, was repairing his window frames by adding plywood. The glass had been shattered during the attack.

According to him, we are constantly worried and now it’s our chance. He also mentioned that luck plays a role in the situation.