Fox says its veteran war photojournalist has been killed reporting in Ukraine
“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we share the news this morning regarding our beloved cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski,” Fox News Media chief executive Suzanne Scott wrote to employees Tuesday morning. “Pierre was killed in Horenka, outside of Kyiv, Ukraine.”
Hall remains hospitalized in Ukraine, Scott said.
Zakrzewski was a veteran war photojournalist who had “covered nearly every international story for Fox News from Iraq to Afghanistan to Syria,” Scott said.
Scott said that Zakrzewski had been reporting from Ukraine since February.
“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,” Scott said.
“He was profoundly committed to telling the story and his bravery, professionalism and work ethic were renowned among journalists at every media outlet,” Scott continued. “He was wildly popular – everyone in the media industry who has covered a foreign story knew and respected Pierre.”
Scott said it was a “heartbreaking day for Fox News Media and for all journalists risking their lives to deliver the news.”
Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian Interior Minister, said a Ukrainian journalist, Oleksandra Kuvshynova, was also killed in the incident.
Tributes immediately poured in from Zakrzewski’s colleagues at Fox News.
Anchor Bill Hemmer, who broke the tragic news on the channel’s air, described Zakrzewski as “an absolute legend” at the network.
Anchor John Roberts said he had worked with Zakrzewski “many times around the world” and described him as “an absolute treasure.”
Foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, who has also been reporting from Ukraine, wrote on Twitter, “I don’t know what to say. Pierre was as good as they come. Selfless. Brave. Passionate. I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
Zakrzewski’s counterparts at other networks also remembered him.
Clarissa Ward, CNN’s chief international correspondent, said she had “the great privilege” of having worked with Zakrzewski and “the even greater privilege of calling him a friend.”
“An extraordinary spirit and tremendous talent and one of the kindest, most gracious colleagues on the road,” Ward wrote on Twitter. “Absolutely heartbreaking.”
Andriy Nebitov, the head of the Kyiv region police, said that Russian forces shot Renaud, adding that “the occupants cynically kill even journalists of international media, who’ve been trying to tell the truth about atrocities of Russian military in Ukraine.”
Press freedom groups have denounced the violence journalists are facing while covering the war. The Committee to Protect Journalists, after the death of Renaud, called on Russian forces to “stop all violence against journalists and other civilians at once.”
