The New York-based Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Ukrainian authorities to investigate the deaths of journalists Roman Nezhyborets and Zoreslav Zamoyskiy during Russia's invasion to determine if they were targeted for their work, and to bring those responsible to justice.
In a statement on April 13, CPJ said Nezhyborets’ body was recently found buried in the northern Ukrainian village of Yahidne, while Zamoyskiy’s body was found in Bucha, near the capital, Kyiv.
Their bodies were found by local Ukrainians after Russian forces withdrew from those areas, the media watchdog said.
“We are profoundly saddened by the deaths of journalists Roman Nezhyborets and Zoreslav Zamoyskiy in Ukraine and call on Ukrainian authorities to promptly investigate and determine whether they were killed in retaliation for their work,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator.
“Russian and Ukrainian authorities have the responsibility to ensure that members of the press can work safely in the context of war,” she added.
The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine reported on April 13 that 20 journalists have been killed in Ukraine since the launch of the Russian invasion.
Media Watchdog Calls For Probe After Two Ukrainian Journalists Found Dead Following Russian Withdrawal
The bodies of Roman Nezhyborets (pictured) and Zoreslav Zamoyskiy were found by local Ukrainians after Russian forces withdrew from areas they had occupied.