On August 24, 2024, a missile strike hit the Hotel Sapphire in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, killing Reuters security advisor Ryan Evans and injuring two other journalists. Evans, a 38-year-old former British soldier, had been working with Reuters since 2022, advising journalists on security matters worldwide, including in Ukraine, Israel, and for the upcoming Paris Olympics.The attack occurred around 19:35 GMT when a six-person Reuters team was staying at the hotel. Two journalists were hospitalized, one with serious injuries, while three other team members were reported safe. Ukrainian authorities, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have accused Russia of carrying out the attack using an Iskander-M missile, which can strike targets up to 500 kilometers away.Vadym Filachkine, governor of the Donetsk region, stated that ‘the Russians had hit Kramatorsk’. The Ukrainian prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the incident. However, Reuters has been unable to verify whether the projectile was fired by Russia or if the building was intentionally targeted.The attack has drawn international attention, with the US State Department confirming that an American citizen was among those injured. The British Foreign Office is seeking more information from Kyiv about the incident.Reuters expressed shock and sadness at Evans’ death, stating, ‘We are desperately seeking more information about the attack, together with the local authorities, and we are supporting our colleagues and their families’. The agency added, ‘Ryan has helped many of our journalists cover events around the world; we will miss him greatly’.
Key points
- Reuters security advisor Ryan Evans was killed in a missile strike on Hotel Sapphire in Kramatorsk, Ukraine.
- Two other Reuters journalists were injured in the attack, with one in serious condition.
- Ukrainian authorities accuse Russia of carrying out the attack using an Iskander-M missile.
- The incident has drawn international attention and condemnation.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported number of Reuters team members affected.
Some sources mention a six-person team, while others report different numbers of injured or safe individuals.
👾The exact age of Ryan Evans is reported as 38 in some sources and 40 in another.
