US journalist Pierre Zakrzewski killed in Ukraine, Russian attack persists

Fox News Channel camera operator Pierre Zakrzewski died in Ukraine on Monday, according to Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott, who informed workers on Tuesday. He was 55 years old at the time.

Zakrzewski was reporting in Horenka, Ukraine, with correspondent Benjamin Hall when their car was hit by incoming fire. Hall was injured in the incident and, according to Scott, is still in the hospital in Ukraine.

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“Pierre was a war zone photographer who covered nearly every international story for Fox News from Iraq to Afghanistan to Syria during his long tenure with us. His passion and talent as a journalist were unmatched,” Scott wrote in her memo.

“Based in London, Pierre had been working in Ukraine since February. His talents were vast and there wasn’t a role that he didn’t jump in to help with in the field — From photographer to engineer to editor to producer — and he did it all under immense pressure with tremendous skill. He was profoundly committed to telling the story and his bravery, professionalism and work ethic were renowned among journalists at every media outlet. He was wildly popular — everyone in the media industry who has covered a foreign story knew and respected Pierre,” the memo said.

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Scott went on to say that Zakrzewski was instrumental in assisting Afghans who had worked for Fox News to flee the country after the US withdrew last summer.

“Last year he played a key role in getting our Afghan freelance associates and their families out of the country after the U.S. withdrawal,” Scott added. “In December at our annual employee Spotlight Awards, Pierre was given the ‘Unsung Hero’ award in recognition of his invaluable work.”

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His death was also announced on Fox News by presenter Bill Hemmer, who described him as “an absolute legend at this network. And his loss is devastating .”

Zakrzewski is the second journalist to be killed in Ukraine in the last week. Brent Renaud, a documentary filmmaker, was assassinated in a Kyiv suburb over the weekend. Renaud was working on a Time Studios project at the time.