Russian Missile Hits Hotel In Kramatorsk, Kills Reuters Advisor

A British national working with a Reuters news team in eastern Ukraine was killed in a missile strike on a hotel on Saturday, the agency has confirmed.

Safety advisor Ryan Evans was one of six Reuters staff members staying at the Hotel Sapphire in Kramatorsk, a city under Ukrainian control but close to the front line, when it was hit.

Ukrainian officials reported that the hotel was struck by a Russian missile, though Russia has not yet commented.

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In a statement, Reuters expressed that the agency was “devastated” by Mr. Evans’s death.

“We are urgently seeking more information about the attack, including by working with the authorities in Kramatorsk, and we are supporting our colleagues and their families,” it said.

“We send our deepest condolences and thoughts to Ryan’s family and loved ones. Ryan has helped so many of our journalists cover events around the world; we will miss him terribly.”

The statement also confirmed that two other team members were hospitalized due to the strike, with one suffering serious injuries. According to the National Police of Ukraine, the body of a 40-year-old British man was recovered from the rubble of the hotel at 18:35 local time (16:35 BST) on Sunday after a 19-hour search operation.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his “condolences to the family and friends” of the victim on Telegram, adding, “This is the daily Russian terror that continues.”

Earlier, Reuters released footage showing parts of the hotel completely destroyed, with firefighters working to sift through the rubble. The Ukrainian General Prosecutor’s Office stated that the hotel was likely struck by a short-range Iskander-M missile.

Kramatorsk, located only about 20 km (12 miles) from Russian-occupied territory, has faced regular attacks, leading to civilian casualties, including the death of celebrated Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina. The Russian military has been making slow but steady progress in the east in recent months, while Ukraine’s recent offensive into Russia is seen as an effort to divert troops from the eastern front line.

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