A reporting workforce for an Italian newspaper comes underneath fireplace in South Ukraine, and one journalist is killed.

KYIV, Ukraine — A Ukrainian journalist working with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica was killed and his Italian colleague was injured on Wednesday once they got here underneath assault as they traveled to town of Kherson in southern Ukraine, the newspaper reported.

Bogdan Bitik, who was working as an interpreter for the Italian journalist, Corrado Zunino, was killed in an assault on the gate to town, “more than likely by Russian snipers,” the paper mentioned. Mr. Zunino was injured and is being handled at a hospital in Kherson.

Each journalists had intensive expertise overlaying the battle, La Repubblica reported, and had been clearly recognized as members of the information media.

“We handed three checkpoints, Bogdan talked to the Ukrainian army, and so they allow us to cross with out issues,” Mr. Zunino advised the paper from his hospital mattress. “It wasn’t a combating zone. Then we acquired hit. I heard a hiss, and I noticed Bogdan on the bottom. He wasn’t transferring. I crawled out of the road of fireplace. I ran till I handed a civilian automobile. I used to be stuffed with blood. I needed to be taken to Kherson hospital.”

He mentioned he had been making an attempt to contact Mr. Bitik however acquired no reply.

“He was a fantastic pal of mine” Mr. Zunino mentioned. “It’s excruciating.”

La Repubblica mentioned the continued threats posed by Russian snipers made it tough to recuperate Mr. Bitik’s physique. His demise was confirmed by Ukrainian officers in public statements.

Ukrainian forces drove the Russians out of Kherson final fall, however the metropolis has come underneath close to day by day bombardment by Russian forces positioned on the east financial institution of the Dnipro River. They’ve used long-range artillery, airstrikes, rockets, snipers, drones and different weapons to maintain the area underneath risk.

Dozens of civilians have been killed within the assaults in and across the metropolis for the reason that Ukrainians regained management over the realm.