Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote a touching letter to the family of an American journalist allegedly killed by the Russians to thank the deceased for shedding light on the darkest crimes of the ongoing conflict.
Brett Renault, 51, from Arkansas, was working as a freelance film director when he was gunned down in the besieged town of Irpin, 30 miles northwest of central Kyiv.
Zelenskiy, in a letter to the Renault family, praised his commitment to shed light “against the forces of darkness” and said the Ukrainian people mourn with them.
“The talented and courageous journalist Brent died documenting the human tragedy, devastation and suffering of millions of Ukrainians,” Zelensky wrote.
“With all his courage and determination, he traveled to the most dangerous war zones to film the unprecedented cruelty and evil also inflicted on our people by the aggressor state.
“The people of Ukraine, who are fighting against the Russian regime to defend their homeland and democracy in the world, mourn with you.”
Zelenskiy told the Reno family they were “thankful to Brent for his professionalism and commitment to the values of compassion, ethics and justice.”
He concluded, “May Brent’s life, service, and sacrifice inspire generations of people around the world to stand up for the forces of light against the forces of darkness.”
Renaud’s colleague Juan Arredondo, a 45-year-old World Press Photo award winner and associate professor at the Columbia School of Journalism in New York, was injured. It was initially claimed that the attack was carried out by Russian soldiers, but this claim has not yet been confirmed.
A Bild photographer who accompanied the couple to the outskirts of Irpin said the Ukrainian military warned them not to go any further, but Renaud and Arredondo said they “wanted to capture what the world needs to see.”
Ben Ronzheimer told Fox News that the two intended to document the flow of refugees leaving Irpin, which marks the spearhead of Russia’s advance on Kyiv.
“Nothing is safe here,” Ronzheimer said. – And if you go to Irpen, and if you go there, and if you try to go further, then every step can mean, yes, that you are being attacked here.
51-year-old Brent Renault was shot dead in Ukraine over the weekend in the Kiev suburb of Irpin.
Reno from Arkansas was freelancing in Ukraine when he was shot dead.
Juan Arredondo, 45, a photojournalist who also teaches at New York’s Columbia School of Journalism, was shot along with Reno.
Ben Ronzheimer, a photojournalist for the German publication Bild, was with Reno and Arredondo before the fatal shot in Reno.
Renault and Arredondo were attacked at Irpin, northwest of Kyiv.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a picture published on Monday by the presidential press service, praised Renault’s bravery.
It remains unclear who fired on Reno and Hall — whether they were advancing Russians or misguided Ukrainians — but their shooting is seen as a sign of the lawlessness of the conflict, with Russia bombing civilian targets such as hospitals and residences.
Reno’s colleague, Arredondo, revealed in a video posted on social media that he and Reno went to Irpin to film refugees fleeing the city and were fired upon by forces near the checkpoint.
“We crossed the first bridge in Irpen,” he said, lying on a hospital stretcher.
“We were going to film all the fleeing refugees. We got into the car.
“Someone offered to take us to another bridge, we crossed the checkpoint and they started shooting at us.
“So, the driver turned around, and they continued to shoot … and there were two of us. My friend’s name is Brent Renault, he was shot and stayed at home.
Fox News reporter Benjamin Hall, 39, who works as a State Department correspondent, was confirmed on Monday to have been injured in Ukraine. His condition is unclear, but the British and US citizen is being treated at the hospital, according to Fox colleagues.
Arredondo was removed on a hospital stretcher explaining what happened
When the interviewer asked how Reno was feeling, Arredondo replied, “I don’t know. I saw that he was wounded in the neck. And we split up.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN: “If an American journalist was actually killed, it’s a shocking and horrific event.” This is yet another example of the brutality of Vladimir Putin and his forces as they targeted schools, mosques, hospitals and journalists.
“And that is why we are working so hard to put harsh consequences on him and trying to help the Ukrainians with all forms of military assistance that we can muster to be able to fight back against the onslaught of these Russian forces.”