MOSCOW: According to Russia’s Izvestia newspaper, one of its military correspondents was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia on Friday.
The attack occurred as journalist Semyon Eremin and his film crew were returning from a reporting trip to the frontline village of Pryiutne, Izvestia reported.
Eremin was wounded and died during the second strike by several enemy drones, The Moscow Times reported the incident citing the Izvestia newspaper.
The 42-year-old journalist had previously reported from behind frontlines in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, including the embattled city of Mariupol, according to the newspaper.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the attack in a statement, describing it as an “act of revenge” for Eremin’s journalistic work. She demanded immediate condemnation from international organizations and human rights structures.
At least 15 journalists have been killed while covering the Ukraine conflict, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, a press freedom organization.
Meanwhile, Ukraine announced that they successfully shot down a Russian long-range bomber for the first time since the invasion. This aircraft was utilized to launch cruise missiles targeting cities within Ukraine, which has been severely affected by the ongoing conflict.
For the first time, the air force’s anti-aircraft missile units, working together with Ukraine’s defense intelligence, successfully took down a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber, as announced by the Ukrainian military via a social media statement.
The Russian Defense Ministry attributed the crash to a “technical malfunction.”
Russian authorities reported that an aircraft collided over the southern Stavropol region while returning to its base, resulting in the unfortunate death of at least one crew member.
According to the state-run RIA Novosti news agency, as per the Defense Ministry’s information, two pilots were transported to the hospital, and ongoing searches are being conducted for the fourth pilot.
A video circulating on social media captures the descending bomber spinning, displaying a fire close to its tail.
Stavropol, located in Russia’s North Caucasus region, lies to the east of the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Over the course of a two-year conflict, it has experienced several attacks.
