Russian troops have killed an American freelance filmmaker while filming in Irpin. This suburb is close to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
Brent Renaud (51), was riding in a vehicle with fellow journalists near Kyiv when Russian soldiers opened fire. One of his coworkers was also injured and he was killed.
Initially, it was believed that he had been assigned to The New York Times by the fact that he wore a badge listing The New York Times as his publication. However, it was later revealed that he was actually working on a global documentary about refugees.
Renaud’s death was announced by Andrey Nebitov, the head of Kyiv’s police department, who said in a Facebook post that he paid ‘with his life for trying to highlight the aggressor’s ingenuity, cruelty and ruthlessness.’ The police chief of Kyiv shared the video. He said that a third journalist had been injured.
A second American journalist, who was able to escape the attack, spoke with Internazionale’s reporter from the hospital.
Juan gave his name as Juan and said Renaud was shot in the neck. He ‘had’ to go.
We had just crossed the Irpin first bridge. We were going to film other refugees leaving we got into a car. Somebody offered to take us to the other bridge. We crossed a checkpoint and they started shooting at us. The driver turned around, there were two of us. Brent Renaud was my friend. He’s been killed and is now gone. He was shot in his neck, I noticed. We were split’, he stated.
While the White House has yet to respond to Renaud’s passing, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan referred to it as’shocking’ and ‘horrifying.
However, it is not clear if Biden would retaliate against Putin. On Sunday, Wendy Sherman, the Deputy Secretary to State of US said that Putin was finally showing signs of willingness to negotiate an end to war. However, up to now it seemed that he had been ‘determined to destroy Ukraine’.
It is the same badge that Brent Renaud, freelance journalist, was wearing when he was killed and shot in Irpin (Ukraine), today as he films refugees
Juan was the other US journalist who was in that truck. Juan is the other US journalist in the truck. He speaks to an Italian newspaper while he talks about their experience crossing a bridge and how Russian troops fired on them.
Jane Ferguson (PBS) tweeted live from Sunday’s scene, saying that Ukrainian police are “outraged” by the murder. US officials have not yet commented
Renaud had been filming a film on refugees in the global cinema when he was shot to death at Irpin. Many are fleeing from this area of Kyiv.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in an appearance on CNN on Sunday morning: ‘If in fact, an American journalist was killed it is a shocking and horrifying event.
‘It is one more example of the brutality of Vladimir Putin and his forces as they target schools, mosques, hospitals and journalists.
‘It is why we are working so hard to impose severe consequences on him and to try to help Ukrainians with every type of military assistance we can muster to be able to push back against the onslaught of these Russian forces.’
PBS reporter Jane Ferguson, who is in Ukraine, tweeted: ‘Just left roadside spot near Irpin where body of American journalist Brent Renaud lay under a blanket. Ukrainian medics could do nothing to help him by that stage.
‘Outraged Ukrainian police officer: “Tell America, tell the world, what they did to a journalist.”’
The Times has issued a statement to clarify that while Renaud worked for them in the past, he was not in Ukraine on assignment for them.
‘We are deeply saddened to hear of Brent Renaud’s death. Brent was a talented photographer and filmmaker who contributed to The New York Times over the years.
‘Early reports that he worked for The Times circulated because he was wearing a Times press badge that had been issued for an assignment many years ago,’ Cliff Levy, Deputy Managing Editor, said in a statement.
He added: ‘Brent’s death is a terrible loss.
‘Brave journalists like Brent take tremendous risks to bear witness and to tell the world about the devastation and suffering caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.’
The White House has not commented on Renaud’s death.
President Biden has taken a firm stance on not sending American troops into the conflict.
He has instead sanctioned Putin economically, along with the rest of the Western world, and has given Zelensky arms and aid.
On February 15, he warned: ‘We are not seeking direct confrontation with Russia, though I have been clear that if Russia targets Americans in Ukraine, we will respond forcefully.’
Renaud with his brother, another filmmaker. The pair are experienced in conflict zones and are understood to have been filming refugees crossing the border when they were killed
Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor was quoted in an appearance by CNNSunday Morning: “If an American journalist were actually killed, it would be shocking and terrifying. The brutality displayed by Vladimir Putin and his forces, who attack schools, mosques as well as hospitals and journalists, is evident in this latest example.
Irpin was the west-side city of Kyiv in which Renaud and another journalist were working when Renaud was gunned down on Sunday.
On Saturday, refugees marched across an Irpin bridge as they tried to flee the area. Renaud had been filming today more when he was killed and shot.
As the Russians attack Irpin on March 12, a Ukrainian man assists an elderly Ukrainian woman to flee.
On Sunday, Ukrainian soldiers in Irpin were armed with rocket-propelled weapons grenades. This city lies next to Kyiv Capital.
Renaud was at work on Sunday when Renaud set ablaze a home in Irpin, north of Kyiv.
The New York Times’ Deputy Managing Editor Cliff Levy tweeted that Renaud was not on assignment for the newspaper when he was killed
Renaud was born Tennessee and is thought to have been raised in Little Rock Arkansas. He is not known if Renaud is married, or if they have a child.
Craig and Craig are best known as he co-produced films that included a Discovery Channel series about Arkansas soldiers who were deployed to Afghanistan.
Putin’s army has expanded its attack on Ukraine, and is targeting areas closer to NATO. Lviv in western Ukraine, which is a refuge haven, was rocked by explosions on Sunday.
Pope Francis pleaded with Putin on Sunday to end the conflict.
Stop this massacre, in the name of God. In my pain, I joined my voice with the people who implore a halt to the war.
He said, “Let there be an effective and decisive emphasis on negotiations, and let humanitarian corridors work effectively and safely,’ to the Vatican Square crowd.
Russian forces bombed two Mauripol maternity hospitals and one for disabled people in the past week.