Fox News cameraman and Ukrainian journalist killed in Kyiv attack

Agency's State Department correspondent Benjamin Hall injured in same attack

This image released by Fox News Channel shows cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski while on assignment with colleagues, Fox News correspondent Steve Harrigan and Jerusalem-based senior producer Yonat Friling in Kyiv. APShow less

Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

A Fox News cameraman and a Ukrainian journalist were killed in the same attack outside Kyiv, Ukraine, that injured correspondent Benjamin Hall, network chief executive Suzanne Scott said in a memo to employees.

Pierre Zakrzewski, Oleksandra Kuvshynova and Hall were on a newsgathering assignment in Horenca when their vehicle was hit by incoming fire.

“We are deeply saddened by the deaths of Pierre Zakrzewski and Oleksandra Kuvshynova in Ukraine while they were working with Fox News, and we are hoping that correspondent Benjamin Hall recovers from his injuries,” CPJ Europe and Central Asia programme co-ordinator Gulnoza Said said in a statement.

Kuvshynova's death was also confirmed by the local publication Kyiv Independent and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Zakrzewski had been working in Ukraine since February after covering news in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“His passion and talent as a journalist were unmatched,” Ms Scott said.

“His talents were vast and there wasn't a role that he didn't jump in to help with in the field … and he did it all under immense pressure with tremendous skill.

“Today is a heartbreaking day for Fox News Media and for all journalists risking their lives to deliver the news.”

Fox on-air anchor John Roberts, who reported the news of Hall's injury on Monday, said he had worked with Zakrzewski “many times around the world".

“He was an absolute treasure,” Roberts said.

Hall, Fox News' State Department correspondent, has been in hospital since being injured during Monday's attack.

These are not the first journalist deaths that have occurred during the Ukraine conflict: Brent Renaud, a documentary filmmaker and former New York Times reporter, was shot dead in the Kyiv suburb of Irpin on Sunday. Another journalist was injured in the attack.

Renaud had been travelling in a vehicle with a group of other journalists when the vehicle was attacked by Russian troops.

“Reporting on this war is a vital public service and it has already claimed the lives of at least two other journalists in just a few weeks,” Ms Said added.

“Ukrainian and Russian authorities must do their utmost to ensure safety of all journalists and to thoroughly investigate attacks on the press.”