British Safety Advisor Dies in Kramatorsk Missile Attack

A British safety advisor working with a Reuters news team in eastern Ukraine was killed in a missile strike on a hotel on Saturday, according to the agency. Ryan Evans, who was part of a team staying at the Hotel Sapphire in Kramatorsk, lost his life in the attack. The hotel, situated in an area under Ukrainian control but close to the front line, was reportedly struck by a Russian missile, as stated by Ukrainian officials. Russia has yet to comment on the incident.

Reuters has confirmed the death and expressed profound grief over Evans’s passing. “We are deeply devastated by the loss of Ryan Evans,” a Reuters spokesperson stated. “We are working urgently to gather more information about the attack in cooperation with local authorities in Kramatorsk and are providing support to our affected colleagues and their families.” The spokesperson also conveyed heartfelt condolences, noting Evans’s significant contributions to the agency’s global coverage and the profound impact of his loss.

The missile strike also resulted in injuries to two other members of the Reuters team, with one in serious condition. Ukrainian officials reported that Evans’s body, a 40-year-old British national, was recovered from the rubble at around 6:35 PM local time (4:35 PM BST) on Sunday after a 19-hour search operation. President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a message posted on Telegram, extended his condolences to the victim’s family and friends and condemned the ongoing violence. “This is the daily Russian terror that continues,” he stated.

In response to the attack, Reuters released footage showing extensive damage to the hotel, with firefighters working through the debris. The Ukrainian General Prosecutor’s Office indicated that the hotel was likely targeted with a short-range Iskander-M missile. The city of Kramatorsk, located approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) from areas occupied by Russian forces, has frequently been targeted, resulting in civilian casualties, including the death of noted Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina.

Recent months have seen gradual but persistent advances by the Russian military in eastern Ukraine. In response, Ukraine has launched an offensive into Russian territory, aiming to alleviate pressure on the eastern front by drawing Russian troops away from the region.