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October 17, 2025 – Russia/Ukraine –
A dramatic incident in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has resulted in the death of a Russian state-media correspondent. According to reports from the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, military correspondent Ivan Zuev was fatally struck by a Ukrainian drone strike in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region. His colleague, Yuri Voitkevich, sustained serious injuries while working alongside him.
The attack reportedly occurred on 16 October 2025, when Zuev and Voitkevich were on assignment near the front lines. RIA Novosti described Zuev as “killed on assignment” as a direct result of the strike. Zuev had been a veteran correspondent with the agency for years and had received state commendations for his work.
Russian authorities, via the foreign ministry and state media, have expressed condolences and highlighted this as the latest in a series of journalist fatalities connected to the war. The incident adds to a troubling tally of media workers killed or wounded while covering the conflict.
From a press-freedom and journalist-safety perspective, this case raises several grave concerns:
- The targeting of a journalist while on assignment underlines the extreme hazards media professionals face in active war zones.
- Whether Zuev was deliberately targeted or caught in crossfire, the event touches on protections owed to accredited journalists under international humanitarian law.
- It also raises questions about the transparency of the incident: precisely how he was working, what protections were in place, and whether he was clearly identified as press.
For war correspondents, frontline positions such as the one in Zaporizhzhia pose acute danger. Zuev’s death underscores that even journalists affiliated with a state-media outlet are not insulated from the lethal risks of modern drone warfare. It also highlights the shrinking safety zone for the press in high-intensity conflicts.
Reference –
https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/ukraine-crisis-journalist-zero
