The American journalist, killed in Ukraine
Brent Renaud, an American journalist, was shot and killed by Russian Forces, in Ukraine, on March 13.
Media and journalism have felt this loss, as we can see in articles posted by outlets such as CNN, BBC News and The New York Times, to name a few.
He was an award-winning American Journalist, documentary filmmaker, and photojournalist, who at the time of his death, was covering the brutality that was and still is taking place in Ukraine.
Renaud met his untimely death in the northern-Ukrainian town of Irpin.
The news was announced in a tweet by police in Kyiv which included a photo of his passport and his body as evidence.
Juan Arredondo, another American journalist involved in the same incident, was fortunate enough to survive the ordeal, although injured.
According to Arredondo’s Instagram account, he and Renaud were travelling on assignment to film refugees leaving the city of Irpin. They were stopped at a checkpoint where Russian soldiers opened-fire.
“…I saw him being shot in the neck,” said Arrendondo, in a video published on Twitter. Renaud worked with his brother Craig to produce films for outlets such as HBO and Vice News and was a former contributor to The New York Times.
When The Times heard of his passing, they expressed their sadness following the announcement on Twitter with a post that headlines: Response from a New York Times spokesperson in regard to the death of Brent Renaud in Ukraine.
The post read: “We are deeply saddened to hear of Brent Renaud’s death. Brent was a talented filmmaker who had contributed to The New York Times over the years. Though he had contributed to The Times in the past (most recently in 2015), he was not on assignment for any desk at The Times in Ukraine. Early reports that he worked for The Times circulated because he was wearing a Times press badge that has been issued for an assignment many years ago.”
Many people took this to heart making comments such as, “So you send condolences NYT but your stating he didn’t work for you as of now?”
Mixed emotions can be seen to be flowing from different stems. No one really knows how to feel about such a tragic event.
No information can be found regarding any statements made by Renaud’s family members. Even though the media strive to keep their people updated with news, families also need time to grief. But more than just the family grieves, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressed his gratitude and support as well as his grief by writing Renaud’s family a letter.
It read: “It is with deep sadness that I am writing to extend my heartfelt condolences to you on the tragic loss of your beloved son and brother, Brent Renaud. The people of Ukraine, who are fighting against the Russian regime to defend their Homeland and democracy in the world, are mourning with you.”
Sadness yearns from Ukraine, left right and centre. One can only hope that the brutality and suffering will come to an end, soon.