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August 27, 2024 – Ukraine/UK –
Ryan Evans, a 38-year-old British media safety adviser working with Reuters, was killed on the night of August 24, 2024, when a Russian missile struck the Hotel Sapphire in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine. A former British soldier from Wrexham, Wales, Evans had served in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming a close-protection officer and later joining Reuters in 2022. Known for his calm demeanor and dedication, he provided safety and emotional support to journalists covering some of the world’s most dangerous assignments.
The missile, believed to be an Iskander short-range weapon, hit the hotel where a Reuters team was based. Evans was buried under the rubble and was later found dead. Two Reuters journalists and several other media personnel were injured, including cameraman Ivan Lubysh-Kirdey, who was critically hurt. The strike occurred near the front line in Donetsk, a region heavily targeted during the ongoing Russian invasion.
Tributes poured in from Evans’s colleagues, family, and press freedom organizations. Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni praised his essential role in the newsroom’s field operations, calling his loss “devastating.” Journalists described him as their protector—a “gentle giant” who ensured safety not only through physical protection but also through his quiet strength and constant care. His wife, who mourns him alongside their four young children, remembered him as her “knight in battered armour.”
The International and European Federations of Journalists condemned the attack as a war crime and called for a full investigation. Evans’s death brings the number of media workers killed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion to at least 17, according to the IFJ. His role highlights the often-overlooked risks faced by those behind the scenes who make frontline journalism possible.
Ryan Evans was more than a safety adviser—he was a lifeline in war zones. His death is not just a loss to journalism, but to the principle that truth must be protected, even in the line of fire. His memory now stands as a solemn reminder of the cost of reporting in conflict.
Reference –
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9w4jy5y4zo
Ukraine: British media worker killed in Kramatorsk strike – IFJ
