The United Nations is concerned by the information about the wounding of a photojournalist from the Japanese publication Asahi Shimbun AJW during the recent attacks on Kyiv, writes on Twitter Saviano Abreu, the spokesperson of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Efforts in Ukraine.
“Journalists spare no effort to inform the world about how the war affects people in Ukraine. Like all civilians, they must be protected,” added Mr. Abreu.
As earlier reported, on December 31, 2022, Kyiv was hit by a missile attack from Russia. One of the rockets hit the Alfavito Hotel, located near the Palats Ukraina metro station.
According to Asahi Shimbun, two employees of the publication lived in the hotel. News reporter Wataru Sekita, 36, suffered a minor leg injury; the ambulance took him to the hospital. Mr. Sekita himself says that he was outside the hotel when the explosion occurred. The man fell under the debris, which injured his right lower leg.
Despite the injuries, the journalist was able to shoot the video. In the video, you can hear how the journalist is asked about his condition, and then they help him get to the ambulance. The persons assisting the journalist explain to the police officer that he is injured and is bleeding.
Another Japanese journalist who was staying at the hotel, 59-year-old Norito Kunisue, was not injured. He told the Asahi Shimbun that he was in his room when there was a loud explosion, and the window glass was shattered.
“The Embassy of Japan is deeply outraged by the repeated massive attack on the civilian population and facilities in Ukraine on New Year’s Eve, which resulted in the death and injury of civilians, including a Japanese journalist,” the embassy said in a statement.
The International Federation of Journalists emphasized that they condemn the Russian shelling of Kyiv.
“We’d like to remind you that Ukraine was the country where the largest number of dead journalists was recorded in 2022,” the IFJ adds.
The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) is trying to get more information about the state of health of the injured Japanese journalist.
“The Russian Federation bears full responsibility for the crimes against journalists committed by the Russian military in the territory of Ukraine. The NUJU is in constant contact with the European and International Federations of Journalists,” Sergiy Tomilenko, the President of the Union, emphasized.
Kyiv City Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that as a result of explosions in several districts of Kyiv, one person was killed and 20 including a Japanese journalist were wounded.
NUJU information service
