American journalist killed in Ukraine

AFP – Kiev – An American journalist was shot dead and another was wounded on Sunday in Irpin, a northwestern suburb of Kiev where Ukrainian forces are fighting the Russian military, concordant sources told AFP.

The two men were hit by bullets while driving with a Ukrainian civilian, who was also injured, Danylo Shapovalov, a volunteer doctor from Ukraine’s territorial defense who treated the victims, told AFP.

Ukrainian authorities were quick to accuse Russian forces of shooting the journalists, but it is not immediately clear where the shots came from.

AFP journalists who were in the area on Sunday heard artillery and small arms fire.

An AFP journalist saw the body of the victim, who was carrying his identity documents, including a New York Times accreditation.

 Brent Renaud, 50, was an award-winning photographer and filmmaker, the American newspaper said in a statement. He had collaborated with the newspaper in the past but did not work for that medium in Ukraine, according to the t statement.

The other American journalist, apparently slightly injured, recounted what happened in a video posted on social networks.