In a tragic incident on Saturday night, Ryan Evans, a British safety adviser working for Reuters, was killed in a Russian missile attack on a hotel in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine. The strike also injured two other journalists, CNN reported.The attack targeted the Hotel Sapphire, where Reuters had a six-person team stationed to cover the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The news agency identified Ryan Evans, a 38-year-old British citizen, as the deceased. Evans, who had been with Reuters since 2022, was providing safety advice to journalists in various high-risk locations, including Ukraine, Israel, and during the Paris Olympics.Injuries and casualtiesThe Reuters team included two journalists who sustained injuries. One is reported to be in serious condition and is receiving hospital treatment. Three other team members, who suffered minor injuries, have been accounted for.Reuters expressed deep sorrow over Evanss death. In a statement, the news agency said, We are urgently seeking more information about the attack, including working with authorities in Kramatorsk. We support our colleagues and their families during this difficult time. Our deepest condolences go out to Ryans family and loved ones. Ryan has been an invaluable support to many of our journalists his loss is profound.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the presence of British and American citizens at the hotel, extending his condolences and condemning the ongoing Russian aggression. “My condolences go out to the family and friends. This is a daily Russian terror that continues,” Zelenskyy said.International responseThe UKs Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office has acknowledged reports of a British national being killed and is seeking further details from local authorities. The US State Department has confirmed that an American citizen was among those injured but has not yet disclosed their identity.Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk regional military administration, confirmed that the injured included individuals from Ukraine, the United States, Latvia, and Germany. He also confirmed that the deceased was a British citizen.Background on KramatorskKramatorsk, a key city in eastern Ukraine, has frequently been targeted by Russian shelling since the conflict began in February 2022. In April 2022, Russian forces carried out a missile strike on a railway station in Kramatorsk, which was used as a shelter for civilians fleeing the violence. This attack resulted in over 50 fatalities and was deemed an apparent war crime by Human Rights Watch and SITU Research.
