Pierre Zakrzewski and Oleksandra Kuvshynova died Monday in Horenka, northwest of the capital, "when their vehicle was fired upon," Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said in a statement, adding that they were with reporter Benjamin Hall, who was injured.

Fox News, which had initially only announced the death of the cameraman on Tuesday, explained that it had delayed the announcement of that of the young woman "out of respect for her family".

The day before, Suzanne Scott had indicated that Benjamin Hall, a Briton who usually covers the State Department, had been injured in this attack and hospitalized, without mentioning other victims.

"A warm adventurer"

Aged 55, Pierre Zakrzewski had dual Franco-Irish nationality.

Based in London, he had covered most of the world's violent conflicts for more than 30 years and had been in Ukraine since February.

"He was a warm adventurer who caused great encounters, he was very humble and human and had lost none of his sensitivity over the years," a member of his family told AFP.

"He was not just filming, he was at the service of others. Just last week in kyiv, he helped to shelter a newborn baby found after a bombardment," added this relative, stressing that he was "capable of working at an altitude of 6,000 meters, like in the heat of Africa", and that he had "witnessed all the conflicts in Afghanistan, from the mujahideen uprising against the Russian army in return of the Taliban".

Pierre Zakrzewski was rewarded in December by Fox News, in particular for having "played a key role in the evacuation of our Afghan freelancers and their families after the American withdrawal" from the country, underlined Suzanne Scott.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he was "deeply shocked and saddened by the death of Irish citizen and journalist Pierre Zakrzewski", in a message on Twitter.

Undated photo provided by Fox News of Irish cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski, American reporter Trey Yingst and Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova in Ukraine - FOX NEWS/AFP

He also condemned "this blind and immoral war of Russia against Ukraine".

talent and courage

Oleksandra "Sasha" Kuvshynova, 24, "was our consultant (...). She helped our teams move around the city, gather information and speak with sources", explained Suzanne Scott.

The young journalist "had talent, good sources and spirit" and Pierre Zakrzewski was "altruistic, courageous and passionate", underlined on Twitter the reporter Trey Yingst, who had worked with them in Ukraine.

UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay condemned the "murder" of the two Fox News journalists, stressing that the media "should never be targeted".

The International Press Institute, a press freedom organization based in Vienna, called on "military forces to do everything in their power to ensure the safety of journalists".

They are "considered civilians under international humanitarian law," the IPI said in a statement.

"It's a heartbreaking day for Fox News Media and for all journalists risking their lives to inform", regretted Suzanne Scott, specifying that Benjamin Hall remained hospitalized in Ukraine.

He was injured in the legs by shrapnel and placed in intensive care, according to Ukrainian Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova.

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, at least five journalists, including two foreigners, have been killed.

American Brent Renaud was shot and killed on Sunday in the northwestern suburbs of kyiv.

Before Oleksandra Kuvshynova, the Ukrainian journalist Evgueni Sakoun was killed in the bombardment of the television tower in kyiv and his colleague Viktor Doudar perished during fighting near Mykolaiv (south), according to the Ukrainian authorities who also counted more than 30 wounded among members of the press covering the conflict.

At least 636 civilians have been killed in Ukraine, according to the latest UN count, which points out that these tolls are probably much lower than the reality.

© 2022 AFP