Zelensky Writes Letter To Family Of U.S. Journalist Killed In Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent a letter on Monday to the family of Brent Renaud, an American journalist killed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Renaud, 50, was a filmmaker on assignment for a Time Studios project and had previously worked with The New York Times.

“It is with deep sadness that I am writing to extend my heartfelt condolences to you on the tragic loss of your beloved son and brother, Brent Renaud,” Zelensky wrote.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Brent Renaud who lost his life while documenting the ruthlessness & evil inflicted upon 🇺🇦 people by Russia. May Brent’s life & sacrifice inspire the world to stand up in fight for the forces of light against forces of darkness. pic.twitter.com/bvQjM470OU

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 14, 2022

“The people of Ukraine, who are fighting against the Russian regime to defend their Homeland and democracy in the world, are mourning with you,” he added.

“A talented and brave journalist, Brent lost his life while documenting human tragedy, devastation and suffering of the millions of Ukrainians. With all his courage and determination, he traveled to the most dangerous war zones to film the unprecedented ruthlessness and evil, also inflicted upon our nation by the aggressor state,” Zelensky wrote. “The people of Ukraine, who are fighting against the Russian regime to defend their Homeland and democracy in the world, are mourning with you.”

“We are thankful to Brent for his professionalism and commitment to the values of compassion, ethics and justice,” he added.

“May Brent’s life, service and sacrifice inspire generations of people all around the world to stand up in fight for the forces of light against forces of darkness,” Zelensky concluded.

Filmmaker Juan Arredondo, also an American, was injured in the attack.

“Somebody offered to take us to the other bridge, and we crossed a checkpoint, and they started shooting at us. So the driver turned around, and they kept shooting, two of us. My friend is Brent Renaud, and he’s been shot and left behind,” Arredondo said, according to a CBS News report. “I saw him being shot in the neck, and we got split, and I got pulled.”

"He's been shot and left behind": U.S. journalist Juan Arredondo describes the moment he and Brent Renaud came under attack by Russian forces at a checkpoint in Irpin, Ukraine, on Sunday. Renaud was shot and killed. https://t.co/BmzIVT54TR pic.twitter.com/NvtYZ1lgM4

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 13, 2022

In addition to Renaud’s death and the injury of his fellow filmmaker, Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall was reportedly injured while news gathering on Monday.

As The Daily Wire reported:

“We’ve got a Fox News alert to pass along to you and this is news that we hate to pass along to you, but it’s obviously what happens sometimes in the middle of a conflict, a Fox News journalist has been injured while news gathering outside of Kyiv,” Roberts said. “Very few details, but teams on the ground are working as hard as they can to try to gather more information.”

“A reminder, of course, that this is in a war zone,” Roberts continued. “That information changes very quickly and we are working as hard as possible to get the best information that we possibly can and get all of the details on what has happened. The safety of our Fox team, of course, is of the utmost importance and our highest priority. More on this as we get it and again just to repeat a Fox journalist has been injured while news gathering outside of Kyiv.”

.@johnrobertsFox reports a @FoxNews journalist has been injured in Ukraine… pic.twitter.com/xFqWs0X1B5

— johnny dollar (@johnnydollar01) March 14, 2022