British Safety Adviser Killed in Russian Strike on Kramatorsk Hotel

Ryan Evans, a British safety adviser for Reuters, was killed and two other journalists injured in a Russian strike on a hotel in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. The incident adds to the ongoing conflict's toll on media personnel. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy confirmed foreigners were among the victims.

Ryan Evans, a British safety adviser working for Reuters, was killed Saturday night in a Russian strike on the Hotel Sapphire in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, according to a CNN report. Two other journalists were injured in the attack.

The news agency revealed that a six-person crew was staying at the hotel to cover the ongoing conflict. Reuters identified Evans as the deceased, noting that two injured journalists are currently hospitalized, one with serious injuries.

Evans, 38, a former British soldier, had been with Reuters since 2022 and had advised journalists in global hotspots, including Ukraine, Israel, and the Paris Olympics. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that British and American citizens were involved in the bombing and extended condolences to the victims' families.

The UK's Foreign Office is seeking information regarding a missing British national. The US State Department confirmed one American was injured but has not disclosed their identity. Donetsk regional military head Vadym Filashkin said other injured journalists include citizens of Ukraine, Latvia, and Germany.

Kramatorsk has been a regular target of Russian shelling since the conflict began in February 2022. Last April, a missile strike on a railway station in the city killed over 50 individuals, an act described as an 'apparent war crime' by Human Rights Watch and SITU Research.

(With inputs from agencies.)