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Deaths of Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin

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On 17 June 2014, Russian state television correspondent Igor Kornelyuk and sound engineer Anton Voloshin were victims of a mortar strike[2][3][4] launched by the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Metalist, Slovianoserbsk Raion, Ukraine, while travelling with a group of LPR rebel separatist fighters during the ongoing war in Donbass.[5] They were killed in the attack, along with five rebels.[6][7] Cameraman Viktor Denisov was not injured in the attack.[citation needed]

Deaths of Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin
LocationMetalist, Slovianoserbsk Raion, Ukraine
CoordinatesN 48° 37' 23.9455" / E 39° 16' 42.3664"
DateJune 17, 2014
TargetPro-Russian separatists
Attack type
Mortar[1] shelling
WeaponsD-30 howitzers[citation needed]
DeathsIgor Kornelyuk, Anton Voloshin, and 5 rebels
PerpetratorsUkrainian artillery battalion[clarification needed]

A Ukrainian military pilot, Nadiya Savchenko, who served as instructor with a volunteer infantry unit, Aidar Battalion, was taken prisoner by the rebel forces at the LPR territory, brought to Russia and convicted to 22 years of imprisonment for allegedly directing the mortar fire and illegal crossing of the Russian border.[8][9] After two years of imprisonment, she was released in a prisoner swap for two Russian prisoners in Ukraine.[10]

Attack

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Metalist
 
Kyiv
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Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin died in the attack at Metalist, Slovianoserbsk Raion. It is shown in relation to the capital Kyiv, Ukraine.

Leading up to the attack on June 17, both journalists were embedded with fighters for the then People's Militia of the Luhansk People's Republic near a military checkpoint in the recently annexed Luhansk region. The checkpoint came under mortar fire from the Aidar Battalion, wherein several were killed or injured, including Igor and Anton.

It has been claimed that both men were wearing camouflage at the time, in contravention of journalistic norms when reporting in warzones, which may have led to them being incorrectly marked as soldiers.[1]

Igor Kornelyuk

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Igor Vladimirovich Kornelyuk
Игорь Владимирович Корнелюк
 
BornMay 9, 1977
Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
DiedJune 17, 2014(2014-06-17) (aged 37)
Luhansk, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine
Cause of deathKilled in action
EducationInstitute of Culture in St. Petersburg
OccupationJournalist
EmployerRossiya 24 – VGTRK
SpouseCatherine Kornelyuk
Children1 daughter

Career

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Igor Kornelyuk graduated from the Institute of Culture in St. Petersburg.[11] Since 1998 he worked as a correspondent in "Yamal" and was a leader on the editorial board of children's programs.[12] Kornelyuk was employed as correspondent for Russia state-owned broadcaster VGTRK, and spent a total of 15 years with VGTRK.[13] Kornelyuk worked alongside Anton Voloshin, reporting on events taking place during the pro-Russian conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Reviews of their reportage skew heavily toward pro-Russia propaganda.[14][15]

Death

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After the attack by Ukrainian Forces, Igor Kornelyuk was taken to Luhansk Regional Hospital by pro-Russian separatists.[12] At the hospital Igor was diagnosed with having shrapnel wounds to the abdomen, legs and burns to the face. Igor would die only after 35 minutes in the emergency room. Igor Kornelyuk died on 17 June 2014 in the city of Luhansk, Ukraine.[2][12] Igor Kornelyuk is survived by his wife Catherine Kornelyuk[16] and their young daughter.[17] Family and friends gathered in Moscow to pay final respects to Kornelyuk.[18]

Anton Voloshin

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Anton Voloshin
Антон Дмитриевич Волошин
 
Bornc. 1988
DiedJune 17, 2014(2014-06-17) (aged 25–26)
Metalist, Slovianoserbsk Raion, Ukraine
Cause of deathKilled in action
OccupationSound engineer
EmployerRossiya 24 – VGTRK

Career

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Anton Voloshin was employed as a sound engineer with the Russian state-owned broadcaster VGTRK.[19] Anton worked alongside Igor Kornelyuk, reporting on events taking place during the Pro-Russian conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

Death

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Anton Voloshin was killed, 17 June 2014, at the scene of the mortar attack in Metalist, Slovianoserbsk Raion, Ukraine. At first Voloshin was presumed missing,[20] until body remains were later identified by Viktor Denisov, a VGTRK cameraman who was not harmed in the attack.[21]

Detention and conviction of Nadiya Savchenko

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Main article: Detention and trial of Nadiya Savchenko in Russia

After the event, the Russian prosecutors charged Ukrainian army aviation helicopter pilot Nadiya Savchenko (sometimes transliterated as Nadezhda) for assisting in the deaths of Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin.[22][23] Despite having an alibi (she was captured by the rebels one hour before the mortar attack occurred according to billing data of mobile phones[24]), she is accused of informing Ukrainian Forces of the location of the journalists.[25] A guilty verdict was delivered 20 March 2016, and she was sentenced the next day to 22 years.[8][9] On 25 May 2016, the Ukrainian and Russian governments exchanged prisoners, and Savchenko was released and flown to Kyiv while two Russian prisoners held in Ukrainian prison were released to Russia.[10]

Impact

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Russian state media framed the deaths as proof the region was increasingly dangerous and required further military intervention.[26] A number of journalists have died on the Russo-Ukrainian War[27] leading to many to call for action to help protect the lives of journalist in major conflict areas such as in Eastern Ukraine.[28]

Reactions

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Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE representative on freedom of the media, stated in response to the event, "This death is yet another horrid reminder that not enough is being done to protect journalists who risk their lives reporting from conflict zones in Ukraine".[7] An investigation into the event started by the Investigative Committee of Russia, stating that this event as a criminal case. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev expressed his anger toward the Ukrainian Government stating that they should be the ones held responsible for the killing.[29] Condemning the killings as "crime of Ukrainian forces".[30]

Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO, on 19 June 2014, denounced the killing of Russian journalist Igor Kornelyuk and sound engineer Anton Voloshin. Bokova said, "I am deeply shocked by the death of journalists Igor Kornelyuk, and Anton Voloshin. I call on all parties to respect the civilian status of journalists and let them carry out their important professional activities in safe conditions in keeping with the Geneva Convention and its Protocols."[31]

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko promised an investigation into the deaths of the journalists. In a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Poroshenko expressed his condolences to the families of the journalist.[32]

Awards

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Both Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin were awarded with a medal of courage by the Russian government.[33]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ What are the differences between Mortar and Howitzer?
  2. ^ a b "Igor Kornelyuk". Committee to Protect Journalists. June 17, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  3. ^ "Two Russian Reporters Killed in Mortar Attack in Eastern Ukraine". Reuters. June 17, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  4. ^ "TASS: World – Russian journalists killed near Luhansk". TASS.
  5. ^ Larson, Jordan (June 17, 2014). "Russian TV Reporter Killed in Luhansk Mortar Attack". Vice News. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  6. ^ "I have right for everything", by Novaya gazeta
  7. ^ a b Conlon, Kevin (June 17, 2014). "Russian Television Reporter Killed in Ukraine". Cable News Network. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "TASS: World – Ukrainian army ex-pilot found guilty of death of Russian journalists near Lugansk – court". TASS.
  9. ^ a b Nemtsova, Anna (22 March 2016). "Ukraine Pilot Sings As Russia Jails Her For 22 Years". The Daily Beast.
  10. ^ a b "Ukraine pilot Nadiya Savchenko 'has arrived in Kyiv' in prisoner swap with Russia". euronews. May 25, 2016.
  11. ^ Рыковцева, Елена (June 18, 2014). "Живым начальникам". Радио Свобода (in Russian). Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c "Эхо Москвы: Новости / Под Луганском погиб журналист ВГТРК Игорь Корнелюк". Эхо Москвы (in Russian). June 17, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  13. ^ "RTR mourns: Ukraine perished employees "Vesti"". BETCN.RU. June 17, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  14. ^ https://www.vesti.ru/article/1824222. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ^ Свобода, Радіо (2014-06-17). "ДЕЗА ДНЯ, 17 червня. Російські ЗМІ: влада України полює за журналістами Росії". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  16. ^ "The widow of the journalist of VGTRK will not participate in the debate on the case Savchenko". rin.ru.
  17. ^ "Russian television company confirms death of journalist in Ukraine". TASS:World. June 17, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  18. ^ "Moscow Bids Farewell to Russian Journalist Killed in Ukraine – Photo gallery – Multimedia – The Moscow Times". The Moscow Times.
  19. ^ "Anton Voloshin". Committee to Protect Journalists. June 24, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  20. ^ "VGTRK journalist dies near Luhansk". rbth. June 17, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  21. ^ "Russian TV journalist Anton Voloshin's body found - Lugansk People's Republic press service". 18 June 2014.
  22. ^ "Ukrainian charged with Russian journalists' deaths". thestar.com. 9 July 2014.
  23. ^ "Ukrainian Officer Charged With Complicity In Killing Of Russian Journalists". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 9 July 2014.
  24. ^ "Алиби Надежды Савченко". Radio Liberty. 17 December 2014.
  25. ^ Tom Parfitt in Moscow (9 July 2014). "Russia charges female Ukrainian pilot over journalists' deaths". Telegraph.co.uk.
  26. ^ "Cynical propaganda mileage from journalist's death". Human Rights in Ukraine. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  27. ^ "Fourth journalist killed in Eastern Ukraine". Reporters Without Borders. June 18, 2014. Archived from the original on March 21, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  28. ^ "Journalist, sound engineer killed in eastern Ukraine". International Press Institution. June 18, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  29. ^ The Associated Press (June 17, 2014). "Two Russian journalists killed by mortar fire in eastern Ukraine". nydailynews.com. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  30. ^ "Ukraine crisis: Deadly attack on Russian TV crew". BBC News. 17 June 2014.
  31. ^ "Director-General condemns killing of Reporters Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin in Ukraine". UNESCO Press. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. June 19, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  32. ^ "Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin: remember, mourn". politklass.ru. 18 June 2014.
  33. ^ "Указ о награждении орденом Мужества журналистов ВГТРК Антона Волошина и Игоря Корнелюка". Президент России (in Russian). 20 June 2014.
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