Official statements from countries or organizations

Russian Journalist Martemyanov Killed in Drone Strike; Russia Demands UNESCO Response

Jan 4, 2025, 09:53 PM

Freelance Izvestia correspondent Alexander Martemyanov was killed on Saturday, January 4, 2025, in a Ukrainian drone strike on a civilian vehicle on the Donetsk-Gorlovka highway in the Donetsk People's Republic. The attack injured four other journalists, including a RIA Novosti correspondent, who received medical assistance in Donetsk, with one requiring hospitalization. Martemyanov had previously been wounded in Donetsk shelling in September 2023. Russian officials, including Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, stated that Ukrainian forces deliberately targeted the journalists and condemned Kiev's 'terrorist methods.' Zakharova demanded that UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and international organizations respond to the attack, vowing that those responsible would face inevitable punishment.