A Fox News cameraman died in Ukraine on Monday after his car came under fire outside of Kyiv, the network said. Cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski was a senior war correspondent reporting in Ukraine since February.
Mr. Zakrzewski, 55, was traveling in the same vehicle as Fox News reporter Benjamin Hall. Also injured in the attackIt occurred in the town of Horenka. Mr. Hall remains hospitalized in Ukraine; Fox News did not share any additional details about his condition.
Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media, announced the news about Mr Zakrzewski in a note to staff Tuesday, calling it a “heartbreaking day”.
“Pierre was a war zone photographer during his long tenure with us, capturing nearly every international story for Fox News, from Iraq to Afghanistan to Syria,” wrote Ms.
“His talents were vast and there was no role he hadn’t jumped into helping out on the field – from photographer to engineer to editor to producer – and he did it all with tremendous skill under tremendous pressure. He was deeply committed to telling the story and his courage, professionalism and work ethic was famous among journalists in every media outlet.”
London-based Mr Zakrzewski also assisted Fox News’ efforts last year to drive Afghan personnel out of Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the country.
“Pierre wouldn’t change in all of our international broadcasts,” Fox News president Jay Wallace wrote in the note. “Like so many others, I always felt an extra sense of confidence when I arrived on the scene and saw him with the camera in hand. The legacy of his positive spirit, boundless energy and eye for story will continue.”
On Sunday, American filmmaker and journalist Brent Renaud50 was shot and killed while reporting in a suburb of Kiev.
Trey Yingst, another Fox News foreign correspondent reporting from Ukraine, sent a photo Him and Mr Zakrzewski on Twitter.
“I don’t know what to say,” wrote Mr. Yingst. “Pierre was as good as they came. Devoted. Brave. Passionate. I’m so sorry that this happened to you.”