What We Know About The Fox News Cameraman Tragically Killed In Ukraine

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, journalists from publications based all over the world have been present on the frontlines, reporting on the conflict in the country. Though journalists are protected by international humanitarian law while reporting on conflicts in regions around the world, according to The Practical Guide to Humanitarian Law, multiple reporters have been targeted, harmed, and even killed while reporting from Ukraine in the past few weeks.

On February 26, just two days after the conflict in Ukraine began, two reporters for The Daily Beast, Stefan Weichert and Emil Filtenborg, were in a vehicle just outside of Ohtyrka, Ukraine, when they were struck with multiple bullets from alleged Russian troops. The reporters survived after undergoing surgery, according to The Daily Beast. On March 13, it was reported that American journalist Brent Renaud, a New York Times journalist who was currently working on a project for Time, was shot and killed while crossing a checkpoint outside of Kyiv. Documentary filmmaker Juan Arredondo was also injured during the attack, according to CBS News.

During an interview on "Face the Nation," White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke about the dangers journalists face in Ukraine. "I will just say that this is part and parcel of what has been a brazen aggression on the part of the Russians where they have targeted civilians, they have targeted hospitals, they have targeted places of worship and they have targeted journalists," Sullivan said, per CBS News.

While riding in a vehicle in Horenka, a town located just outside of Kyiv, Ukraine, Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski was struck and killed when Russian forces began firing rounds into his car. Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall, who was in the car with Zakrzewski, was injured during the incident and his condition is currently unknown, per Deadline. Zakrzewski had been covering the conflict in Ukraine since February.

"Pierre was a war zone photographer who covered nearly every international story for Fox News from Iraq to Afghanistan to Syria during his long tenure with us. ... He was wildly popular — everyone in the media industry who has covered a foreign story knew and respected Pierre," Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott wrote in a memo to other Fox News staff members, per the The Washington Post. Scott also mentioned how Zakrzewski managed to get many Afghan freelance associates and their family members out of Afghanistan during the United States withdrawal from the country in 2021. This heroic accomplishment earned him an "Unsung Hero" award during Fox News' annual employee Spotlight Awards.

After news of his death was made public, his colleagues, friends, and other leaders and journalists posted heartfelt tributes about Zakrzewski's impact, including Fox News foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, per Fox News.