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US journalist shot dead by Russian forces near Kyiv

Brett Renaud was 51-years-old.

A US JOURNALIST has been shot dead and another wounded in Irpin, a frontline suburb of Kyiv that has witnessed some of the fiercest fighting since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Papers found on the American reporter’s body identified him as 50-year-old video documentary shooter Brent Renaud, of New York.

A New York Times identity card was among the papers, leading to reports he worked for the paper, but the US daily said he was not working for it at the time of his death.

The International Federation of Journalists identified the wounded reporter as American photographer Juan Arredondo.

A third victim, a Ukrainian who had been in the same car as the Americans, was also wounded, according to a medic at the scene.

AFP reporters in Irpin saw Ukrainian volunteer soldiers rush the body on a stretcher to a more secure location before laying it out on the ground for further identification.

Danylo Shapovalov, a surgeon volunteering for the Ukrainian territorial defence, said Renaud died instantly from a gunshot wound to his neck.

Ukrainian officials were quick to blame Russian forces for the shooting but the exact circumstances were unclear.

AFP reporters heard small arms and artillery fire in the area, which runs along the front splitting Ukrainian positions from advancing Russian forces


“The car was shot at. There were two journalists and one of ours,” Shapovalov told AFP.

“Our guy and the journalist are wounded, I provided them first aid, the other one received a wound in the neck, he died immediately.”

‘They kept shooting’

The New York Times called Renaud “a talented photographer and filmmaker” who last contributed to the paper in 2015.

“He was not on assignment for any desk at The Times in Ukraine,” said a statement tweeted by deputy managing editor Cliff Levy.

Arredondo said in a news video shot of him in his hospital bed that the reporters’ vehicle came under attack after crossing a Ukrainian-controlled checkpoint.

“We were going to film other refugees leaving. We got into a car, someone offered to take us to the other bridge,” he said.

“We crossed a checkpoint and they started shooting at us, so the driver turned around and they kept shooting.”

Ukrainian officials immediately blamed Russian forces for the attack, which occurred near a bridge leading from Irpin to the flashpoint town of Bucha, now under Russian control.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said US officials would consult with Kyiv to determine the circumstances of the attack.

“We’ll be consulting with the Ukrainians to determine how this happened and then to measure and execute appropriate consequences as a result of it,” Sullivan told CBS television.

Renaud won Harvard University’s Nieman Fellowship in 2019, which he used to report on a wide range of global issues, including Black Lives Matter protests in his native Little Rock, Arkansas.

His other work included an HBO documentary on heroin addiction and reports on Africa and the Middle East, according to his official Nieman biography.

Renaud becomes the first foreign reporter killed in Ukraine since the Russian assault began on February 24.

A Ukrainian journalist died during a Russian missile strike aimed at Kyiv’s television tower, which killed five people walking in the area on March 1.

© AFP 2022

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    Mute Essor
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    Mar 13th 2022, 1:33 PM

    RIP. Risked his life so we could see the war crimes being committed by Putin

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    Mute Eoin Roche
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    Mar 13th 2022, 1:41 PM

    @Stephen Murphy: I suppose it was the journalists shooting at unarmed Russian soldiers then? Go back to sleep.

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    Mute HunWithACause✊
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    Mar 13th 2022, 1:43 PM

    @Stephen Murphy: are you going over to fight for Russia yeah?

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    Mute Juniper
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    Mar 13th 2022, 1:44 PM

    @Stephen Murphy: In the west, we get to see both sides and make up our mind what’s really happening. In Russia, there is only the line that they are on a liberation mission to free Ukraine from fascists. It is pretty clear that Russia’s line is – as Trump would call it – using alternative facts.

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    Mute Monty Donotno
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    Mar 13th 2022, 1:44 PM

    @Stephen Murphy: perhaps you should move to Russia to explore further your neutral view of their behavior.

    118
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    Mute Ronnie Mhelan
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    Mar 13th 2022, 1:48 PM

    @Stephen Murphy: I mean, Russia invaded Ukraine and are now targeting civilians right? You’re not disputing that fact are you?

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    Mute Shane McGrath
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    Mar 13th 2022, 1:48 PM

    @Stephen Murphy: Get stuffed. There is one side to this.

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    Mute Niall O'Reilly
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    Mar 13th 2022, 2:30 PM

    Brave are the journalists who enter those conflict zones to ensure truth and evidence is sought for the rest of us armchair critics. Well done Dan. Condolences to your family and friends. May you Rest In Peace.

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    Mute Ivan Connolly
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    Mar 13th 2022, 4:37 PM

    @Niall O’Reilly: yes it’s very sad. Everyone is at risk in a war zone. I remember also the journalists machine gunned by the American attack helicopter during the illegal occupation of Iraq. If I recall correctly they then shot up a van with kids inside who tried to help the gunned down journalists. I think it’s always important to remember that it is the dehumanising of other people that makes it easier for soldiers to kill them and also that killing can be done far beyond the range that a press badge can be seen.

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    Mute Willie Penwright
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    Mar 13th 2022, 6:31 PM

    @Ivan Connolly: That clip is still available on YouTube but the journalist who exposed the crime is in a British prison on orders from the US, without charge or trial – Julian Assange.

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    Mute Ivan Connolly
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    Mar 13th 2022, 7:04 PM

    @Willie Penwright: indeed which I think emphasises Stephen Murphys comment above which now seems to have been removed. It appears only one point of view is allowed here as well as Russia. But his comment was correct. Propaganda exists on all sides as do atrocities committed against civilian populations but for the most part the western media doesn’t seem to call those committed by the west, war crimes. The reality is that all powerful countries do as they want and as far as they are concerned, might is right and their respective media only ever see their side as righteous and the other as war criminals.

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    Mute C_O'S
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    Mar 13th 2022, 1:43 PM

    Such a handsome guy to have his life taken away by the Russian enemy….. RIP Brett, And condolences to his family and friends back home in the states who will be mourning his tragic death.

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    Mute Colm O' Shea
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    Mar 13th 2022, 1:58 PM

    @C_O’S: his looks add or take away nothing from the situation. Agree with everything else you said

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    Mute Genera L Consensus
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    Mar 13th 2022, 1:48 PM

    Shot in the head by a sniper so no accident, what will the US do to protect its citizens?

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    Mute Dan Broderick
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    Mar 13th 2022, 2:16 PM

    @Genera L Consensus: tell them to stay out of a warzone! He wasn’t there in an official capacity so there is more to this story than any of us will ever know.
    This is absolutely not a black and white, good vs evil situation.

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    Mute Jonathan O'Riordan
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    Mar 13th 2022, 2:19 PM

    @Dan Broderick: go join your buddy Stephen Murphy

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Mar 13th 2022, 2:23 PM

    @Genera L Consensus: They’ve tried to protect them already by suggesting they leave/do not travel to Ukraine. War corresponding is a dangerous gig, it’s why these guys get paid big bucks. One oddity in the story is that he was employed by NYT, was wearing NYT I.D. badge, but NYT were very quick to point out he wasn’t in Ukraine on NYT’s behalf.

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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Mar 13th 2022, 2:41 PM

    @Tommy Roche: freelancing ?

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    Mute Deirdre
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    Mar 13th 2022, 3:03 PM

    @Tommy Roche: im sure there is insurance on these guys, when on assignment, could be a reason to say out loud not on assignment, so no insurance payout. Or they are scared of Putin.

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Mar 13th 2022, 3:28 PM

    @Deirdre: Ok.

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    Mute Essor
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    Mar 13th 2022, 4:22 PM

    @Dan Broderick: he was filming a documentary refugees as an independent journalist. Get back in your box

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    Mute Essor
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    Mar 13th 2022, 4:23 PM

    @Essor: *on refugees

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    Mute Ivan Connolly
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    Mar 13th 2022, 4:39 PM

    @Jonathan O’Riordan: ah such an erudite response. How fine you must look in your black shirt.

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    Mute Gavin Mckenna
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    Mar 13th 2022, 5:33 PM

    @Dan Broderick: Awful, rest in peace. Just couldnt do a simple RIP no? Another tin foiler convinced there’s something more when there’s not. Disgraceful.

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    Mute Mike Dunne
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    Mar 13th 2022, 6:43 PM

    @Genera L Consensus: Nothing, with Biden in charge.

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    Mute Tony Doyle
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    Mar 14th 2022, 1:59 AM

    @Dan Broderick: Evidence please and do you believe that the Funky Gibbon is still the American president

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    Mute Tony Doyle
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    Mar 14th 2022, 2:00 AM

    @Tommy Roche: He was a freelance journalist that the NYT occasionally used

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    Mute Tony Doyle
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    Mar 14th 2022, 2:04 AM

    @Ivan Connolly: a black shirt will always beat a red neck or a yellow belly

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    Mute trebloc01
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    Mar 13th 2022, 2:18 PM

    Moldova, Georgia, Sweden, Finland, Estonia,Latvia & Lithuania and then onto Poland. US & NATO have no stomach for fighting after Afghanistan

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    Mute kevin mc cormack
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    Mar 13th 2022, 2:31 PM

    @trebloc01: I’d doubt they’ll have the money or capacity to get out of Ukraine let alone the others you’ve mentioned

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Mar 13th 2022, 3:36 PM

    @trebloc01: NATO hasn’t been attacked so why would it get involved in someon else’s war? Russia are struggling to take Ukraine there is no chance Putin is looking at his militaries performance in Ukraine and thinking of attacking any NATO state. So stop talking cr ap

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    Mute alan scott
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    Mar 13th 2022, 3:47 PM

    @trebloc01: the war in Afghanistan will look small in comparison to would could happen.

    And no NATO and the USA not are weak.

    They will defend every inch of NATO territory and destroy Russia in a day, considering Russia is having a very difficult time against a vastly inferior military.

    God speed Ukraine

    Clown alert

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    Mute Gerry McCaughey
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    Mar 13th 2022, 4:23 PM

    @trebloc01: half of those countries are NATO. The minute Russia sets foot in any NATO country their military will be torn to shreds. Ukraine are making a good fist of it by themselves but if Russia take on NATO directly they’ll be obliterated. Their only option will be nukes. Even then, they’ll be destroyed. I have no doubt there are people in the kremlin preparing to take Putin out should he show signs of moving in that direction.

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    Mute Willie Penwright
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    Mar 13th 2022, 6:35 PM

    @trebloc01: They weren’t wearing their Nato ensignia during the war on Afghanistan. That was an openly US operation. The Europeans were just there for a bit of training and sales opportunities for their arms industries.

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    Mute Tony Doyle
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    Mar 14th 2022, 2:13 AM

    @Roy Dowling: I get your drift but less than 20 days ago the current situation in Ukraine was unthinkable

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    Mute Niamh Hayes
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    Mar 13th 2022, 8:17 PM

    As much as we give out about the media ,we continue to forget how important journalism is in the world as a tool of truth and freedom.R.I.P

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    Mute Tomás Barrett
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    Mar 13th 2022, 7:19 PM

    @Willie Penwright: ‘free’ far far freer than Russians who face 15 years in prison if they don’t tow the Kermlins line.

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    Mute Tony Doyle
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    Mar 14th 2022, 2:21 AM

    Sad event for all in the media and consumers of the media But can anyone imagine if this was a Fox journalist and the spin that would follow

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    Mute Colm O'Leary
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    Mar 14th 2022, 7:42 AM

    Hate to be the one to say this but I will. I told you all so when Russia was building up its force on the Russian border that this was about to happen. Russia has pretty much used up the resources of its army on this little experiment and as long as it doesn’t get replenished from China. I’m convinced that China may take this opportunity to attack Russia on its eastern side. If Putin isn’t careful he could loose his Pacific sea access!

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