Date June 17, 2014 Weapons D-30 howitzers | Attack type Mortar shelling | |
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Location Metalist, Slovianoserbsk Raion, Ukraine Coordinates N 48° 37' 23.9455" / E 39° 16' 42.3664" Target Pro-Russian separatists Died 17 June 2014, Luhansk, Ukraine | ||
A Russian state television correspondent Igor Kornelyuk and sound engineer Anton Voloshin were with a group of LPR rebel separatist fighters during the ongoing war in Donbass as they came under a mortar strike launched by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, near Metalist, Slovianoserbsk Raion, Ukraine, on 17 June 2014. They were killed in the attack, along with 5 rebels. Cameraman Viktor Denisov was not injured in the attack.
Contents
A Ukrainian military pilot, Nadiya Savchenko who served as instructor with a volunteer infantry unit, Aidar Battalion was taken prisoner by the rebel forces at the LPR territory, brought to Russia and convicted to 22 years of imprisonment for allegedly directing the mortar fire and illegal crossing of Russian border. After two years of imprisonment, she was released in a prisoner swap for two Russian prisoners in Ukraine.
Career
Igor Kornelyuk graduated from the Institute of Culture in St. Petersbug. Since 1998 he worked as a correspondent in "Yamal" and was a leader on the editorial board of children's programs. Kornelyuk was employed as correspondent for Russia state-owned broadcaster VGTRK, and spent a total of 15 years with VGTRK. Kornelyuk worked alongside Anton Voloshin, reporting on events taking place during the pro-Russian conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
Death
After the attack by Ukrainian Forces, Igor Kornelyuk was taken to Lugansk Regional Hospital by pro-Russian separatists. At the hospital Igor was diagnosed with having shrapnel wounds to the abdomen, legs and burns to the face. Igor would die only after 35 minutes in the emergency room. Igor Kornelyuk died on 17 June 2014 in the city of Lugansk, Ukraine. Igor Kornelyuk is survived by his wife Catherine Kornelyuk and their young daughter. Family and friends gathered in Moscow to pay final respects to Kornelyuk.
Career
Anton Voloshin was employed as a sound engineer with the Russian state-owned broadcaster VGTRK. Anton worked alongside Igor Kornelyuk, reporting on events taking place during the Pro-Russian conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
Death
Anton Voloshin was killed, 17 June 2014, at the scene of the mortar attack in Metalist, Slovianoserbsk Raion, Ukraine. At first Voloshin was presumed missing, until body remains were later identified by Viktor Denisov, a VGTRK cameraman who was not harmed in the attack.
Accusations
According to Russian media Savchenko was captured near the city of Luhansk, Ukraine on 18 June 2014, by pro-Russian separatists as an artillery spotter-operator of Mi-24 after reporting coordinates of the Russian reporters to mortar artillerists. According to the Investigative Committee of Russia, Savchenko texted the coordinates from her cell phone over to mortar artillerists. Russian media also was accusing Savchenko in tortures against prisoners of war and use of stimulants.
Detention and conviction of Nadiya Savchenko
After the event, the Russian prosecutors charged Ukrainian Army aviation helicopter pilot Nadiya Savchenko (sometimes transliterated as Nadezhda) for assisting in the deaths of Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin. Despite having an alibi (she was captured by the rebels one hour before the mortar attack occurred according to billing data of mobile phones), she is accused of informing Ukrainian Forces of the location of the journalists. A guilty verdict was delivered 20 March 2016, and she was sentenced the next day to 22 years. On 25 May 2016, the Ukrainian and Russian governments exchanged prisoners, and Savchenko was released and flown to Kiev while two Russian prisoners held in Ukrainian prison were released to Russia.
Impact
The deaths of both Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin add on to a growing list of journalist whom have died on the War in Donbass The region of Eastern Ukraine has been regarded as a "trap for journalists". Leading to many to call for action to help protect the lives of journalist in major conflict areas such as in Eastern Ukraine.
Reactions
Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE representative on freedom of the media, stated in response to the event, "This death is yet another horrid reminder that not enough is being done to protect journalists who risk their lives reporting from conflict zones in Ukraine". An investigation into the event started by the Investigative Committee of Russia, stating that this event as a criminal case. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev expressed his anger toward the Ukrainian Government stating that they should be the ones held responsible for the killing. Condemning the killings as "crime of Ukrainian forces".
Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO, on 19 June 2014, denounced the killing of Russian journalist Igor Kornelyuk and sound engineer Anton Voloshin. Bokova said, "I am deeply shocked by the death of journalists Igor Kornelyuk, and Anton Voloshin. I call on all parties to respect the civilian status of journalists and let them carry out their important professional activities in safe conditions in keeping with the Geneva Convention and its Protocols." Ukrainian President,
President Petro Poroshenko promised an investigation into the deaths of the journalists. In a conversation with Vladimir Putin, Poroshenko expressed his condolences to the families of the journalist.
Awards
Both Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin were awarded with a medal of courage by the Kremlin.