Kiev names Russian soldier accused of ordering attack on hotel in Kramatorsk, which killed Reuters adviser and injured two journalists
Ukraine said on Friday that Colonel General Alexei Kim, deputy chief of Russia’s General Staff, ordered a missile attack on a hotel in eastern Ukraine in August that killed Ukraine’s security adviser. Reuters, Ryan Evans, and injured two agency journalists.
A statement published by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Telegram said Kim authorized the attack on the Sapphire Hotel in Kramatorsk on August 24.
The court said it named him in absentia as an official suspect, a step in any Ukrainian criminal case against an individual that could later lead to charges.
“It was Kim who signed the directive and gave the combat order to fire on the hotel, where only civilians were staying,” he said.
There was no immediate comment from the Russian Defense Ministry, which did not respond to previous requests for comment on the attack. The news agency also did not receive a response to messages to Kim’s cellphone requesting comment on the SBU statement.
In response to questions from Reuters, the SBU declined to share a copy of the directive signed by Kim, or provide further evidence to support its claims. The news agency was unable to independently confirm them.
“To carry out the attack, the Russian colonel general involved one of his subordinate missile forces units,” the Ukrainian agency said, adding that the attack was carried out with an Iskander-M ballistic missile.
The SBU did not identify the specific unit.
Their statement said Kim was named a suspect under two articles of the Ukrainian criminal code: waging aggressive war and violating the laws and customs of war.
Reuters said: “We note today’s news from Ukrainian security services about the August 24, 2024, missile attack on the Sapphire Hotel in Kramatorsk, a civilian target more than 20 km from Russian-occupied territory.”
“The attack had devastating consequences, killing our security consultant, Ryan Evans, and injuring members of our editorial team. We continue to seek more information about the attack. It is extremely important that journalists can report freely and safely,” the statement said.
Evans, a 38-year-old former British soldier who had worked as a security consultant for Reuters since 2022, died instantly in the attack.
Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey, a news agency cameraman who was in a room across the hall, was seriously injured. Kiev-based text correspondent Dan Peleschuk was also injured.
The three remaining members of the Reuters team escaped with minor cuts and scrapes.
With information from Reuters*
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2024/12/21/ucrania-acusa-general-russo-por-ataque-que-matou-conselheiro-da-reuters/
