Reporters Without Borders: "Ukrainian Photojournalist Shot and Killed by Russian Troops"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international press watchdog, condemned Russia after revealing that a Ukrainian photojournalist was shot and killed by Russian troops during coverage.

On the 22nd (local time), RSF released a report based on an on-site investigation into the death of Ukrainian photojournalist Maks Levin (40), stating, "Russian troops shot and killed Levin, and there is evidence that he was brutally executed."

According to the report, Levin went missing on March 13, the 18th day after Russia invaded Ukraine, and his body was found on April 1 in a forest near the village of Moshchun, about 20 km north of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.

Levin was a freelance photojournalist collaborating with Ukrainian news sites and foreign media. Just before his disappearance, he was covering the Russian troops' invasion of the Kyiv area with the cooperation of the Ukrainian military. He entered the forest with his acquaintance and Ukrainian soldier Oleksiy Chernyshov to retrieve a drone used for filming from his vehicle and is presumed to have died on March 13, the day he went missing. Chernyshov was also found dead alongside Levin.

RSF stated that there is overwhelming evidence supporting that Levin and Chernyshov were killed by Russian troops. The report suggested that, based on the condition of the bodies and surrounding circumstances, Levin likely died from close-range gunfire. Fourteen rifle bullet holes were found on Levin's vehicle.

The Ukrainian prosecution also confirmed that Levin died from two rifle shots fired by Russian troops. Chernyshov, who accompanied him, was found near a burned vehicle, and his body was also severely burned, according to the report. RSF emphasized, "Analyzing the evidence, it is possible to infer that Levin encountered Russian troops, was interrogated or tortured, and then executed. We will strive to identify who executed him."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.