Reuters Journalist Unaccounted for Following Missile Strike in Eastern Ukraine
A Reuters journalist is missing following a missile strike on a hotel in eastern Ukraine, according to a statement from the news agency. The incident occurred late Saturday night at the Hotel Sapphire in Kramatorsk, a city under Ukrainian control but close to the eastern front lines.
Reuters reported that its six-person team was staying at the hotel when the missile hit. Two journalists were injured and taken to a nearby hospital, three others have been confirmed safe, but the agency is urgently trying to locate the sixth team member.
Ukrainian authorities have attributed the strike to a Russian missile, though Moscow has not yet responded to these claims. The Ukrainian General Prosecutor’s Office suggested that a short-range Iskander-M missile may have been used in the attack.
Footage released by Reuters shows extensive damage to the hotel, with large sections of the building reduced to rubble. Firefighters and rescue teams are currently on the scene, combing through the debris in search of survivors. Vadym Filashkin, the governor of the Donetsk region, confirmed that rescue and debris-clearing operations are ongoing, and that several nearby homes and buildings were also damaged in the strike.
Kramatorsk, located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Russian-occupied territory, has been frequently targeted by missile attacks. Recent assaults in the area have resulted in civilian casualties, including the death of well-known Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina.
The situation in eastern Ukraine remains volatile, with the Russian military making gradual advances. Ukraine’s recent counteroffensive into Russian territory appears to be an effort to divert Russian forces away from the eastern front.
