Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski, Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova killed near Kyiv
Pierre Zakrzewski, a cameraman for Fox News, was killed Monday alongside a Ukrainian colleague, Oleksandra Kuvshynova, while reporting outside Kyiv, according to statements from Fox News and Ukrainian officials on Tuesday.
Both journalists were traveling in a car Monday with Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall in the town of Horenka when the vehicle was struck by incoming fire. The network said on Monday that Hall, a State Department correspondent, has been hospitalized with his injuries, but no further update has been given on his condition.
Zakrzewski, 55, an Irish citizen who was based in London, had been working in Ukraine since February.
Kuvshynova’s death was confirmed Tuesday afternoon by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
In a memo to employees Tuesday, Fox News Media chief executive Suzanne Scott described Zakrzewski as a network veteran “who covered nearly every international story for Fox News from Iraq to Afghanistan to Syria during his long tenure with us. His passion and talent as a journalist were unmatched. His talents were vast and 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 – and he did it all under immense pressure with tremendous skill. He was profoundly committed to telling the story and his bravery, professionalism and work ethic were renowned among journalists at every media outlet. He was wildly popular – everyone in the media industry who has covered a foreign story knew and respected Pierre.”
Jay Wallace, the president of the Fox News Channel, said that “the legacy of his positive spirit, boundless energy and eye for the story will carry on.”
Scott also credited Zakrzewski with playing “a key role” in helping to evacuate people who worked with the network, and their families, from Afghanistan last summer. He was given the network’s “Unsung Hero” award in December.
Zakrzewski and Kuvshynova were killed during a particularly violent and dangerous phase for journalists covering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On Sunday, an American documentary filmmaker, Brent Renaud, was fatally shot while reporting outside Kyiv.
“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,” said Gulnoza Said of the Committee to Protect Journalists. “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. Ukrainian and Russian authorities must do their utmost to ensure safety of all journalists, and to thoroughly investigate attacks on the press.”
Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer announced Zakrzewski’s death on the network on Tuesday. “Pierre Zakrzewski was an absolute legend at this network, and his loss is devastating,” Hemmer said.
John Roberts, the Fox News anchor who announced Hall’s injury on Monday, said on Twitter that Zakrzewski was “an absolute treasure.” Fox News foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, who is reporting from Ukraine, shared a photo with Zakrzewski. “Pierre was as good as they come,” he wrote. “Selfless. Brave. Passionate. I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward also paid tribute to Zakrzewski, her friend. She called him “an extraordinary spirit and tremendous talent and one of the kindest, most gracious colleagues on the road.”
“Our thoughts, our prayers, are with his family, and with the entire community as well,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during her briefing Tuesday afternoon.
Ireland’s prime minister, Micheál Martin, said on Tuesday that he was “deeply disturbed and saddened” by the death of one of the country’s citizens. “We condemn this indiscriminate and immoral war by Russia on #Ukraine,” he wrote on Twitter.
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