Two Ukrainian journalists were killed in eastern Ukraine after a Russian drone strike hit their vehicle during frontline reporting, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The journalists, working for a local news outlet, were covering ongoing clashes between Ukrainian forces and Russian troops when their car was struck by an explosive drone. The attack took place near the Donetsk region, an area that has seen intense fighting in recent weeks.
Ukraine’s Interior Ministry condemned the strike, calling it a “targeted attack on press freedom.” Authorities said efforts are underway to recover the journalists’ bodies and investigate the incident.
Media organizations and rights groups across Europe expressed outrage, urging Russia to stop targeting civilians and media personnel in the conflict zone. They highlighted that journalists continue to face grave risks while reporting from the front lines.
The latest deaths bring the total number of journalists killed in Ukraine since the war began to more than 20, according to international watchdogs.
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