TIME Magazine said that American video journalist Brent Renaud was on assignment when he was shot dead near Kiev
American war reporter and filmmaker Brent Renaud was working on a project for TIME Studios when he was shot dead in Irpin near the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Sunday, the magazine said in a statement. Ukrainian sources claim Renaud was killed by Russian forces, although these claims have not yet been confirmed.
“In recent weeks, Brent was in the region working on a TIME Studios project focused on the global refugee crisis,” read the statement from TIME CEO Edward Felsenthal and President Ian Orefice.
“Our hearts are with all of Brent’s loved ones. It is essential that journalists are able to safely cover this ongoing invasion and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine,” the statement concluded.
Renaud’s death was first announced earlier on Sunday by Kiev Region Police chief Andrey Nebytov, who shared images of a New York Times press pass belonging to Renaud and a dead body, allegedly the journalist’s. Nebytov accused Russian forces of killing the reporter.
The New York Times stated shortly afterwards that Renaud was not working for the newspaper in Ukraine, and that he had last worked for it in 2015.
Renaud’s companion, Colombian-American photographer Juan Arredondo, was wounded and told reporters at a Kiev hospital that the pair traveled past a checkpoint to film refugees leaving Irpin when they were fired upon. Arredondo did not say who opened fire or whether they were traveling in a civilian or military vehicle.
Located on the outskirts of Kiev, Irpin has been the scene of intense fighting between Ukrainian and Russian troops in recent days. It is unknown which side controlled the territory on which Renaud was shot.