British Safety Adviser Ryan Evans Killed in Ukraine Hotel Attack

Kyiv, Ukraine – Ryan Evans, a British safety adviser working for Reuters, was killed in a Russian strike at a hotel in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, on Saturday night. Two other journalists were injured in the attack.

Reuters had a six-person crew staying at the Hotel Sapphire to cover the war in Ukraine. A spokesperson for Reuters identified the deceased as Ryan Evans, a British citizen who had been advising journalists on safety since 2022. Evans, 38, was a former British soldier and had worked in various locations, including Ukraine, Israel, and the Paris Olympics.

Reuters stated that two of its journalists are being treated in the hospital, one with serious injuries. The news agency is working with local authorities to gather more information about the attack and is supporting the affected colleagues and their families. They expressed their deepest condolences to Ryan’s family and loved ones.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed in his daily address that British and American citizens were in the Kramatorsk hotel. He extended his condolences to the families and friends of the victims, highlighting the ongoing Russian attacks.

A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said they are seeking more information about the missing British national. The US State Department also confirmed that an American citizen was among the injured but did not provide further details.

Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk regional military administration, stated that the injured journalists include citizens of Ukraine, the United States, Latvia, and Germany. He confirmed that the deceased was a British citizen.

Kramatorsk has been frequently targeted by Russian shelling since the conflict began in February 2022. In April last year, a missile strike on a railway station in Kramatorsk killed over 50 people, including several children, which was termed as an ‘apparent war crime’ by Human Rights Watch and SITU Research.