Italian journalists come under Russian shelling in Kherson Oblast
As a result of the shelling, the reporters' car was damaged (Photo:Скріншот відео Claudio Locatelli — Il giornalista combattente/Facebook)
A pair of Italian war correspondents were struck by Russian shelling in Kherson Oblast, Italian journalist Claudio Locatelli wrote on his Facebook page on Dec. 19.
He published a video of him and photojournalist Niccolo Celesti falling under fire while driving in a car through a residential neighborhood. The ex-act location of the incident wasn't specified.
Locatelli reported suffering slight injuries as a result of the attack, speculating that a number of glass shards struck his neck.
Locatelli stated that the car they were in had a huge ‘Press' sign on it, and their equipment was marked to identify the pair as journalists. The re-porters' equipment also was marked so they would be easily recognisable as journalists.
Later, he reported that the shelling was carried out "from the opposite side of the Dnipro River, where the Russian army is located".
"Our car was properly marked,” he wrote.“
There was no one else around. Taking into account the location of the troops and the dynamic of shelling, It was an intended attack. There is no excuse for shooting at the press. Luckily, we're safe and sound.”
He also added that he is going to continue to cover the war in Ukraine de-spite the efforts of those who "want to silence him".
Since its retreat from Kherson and the right bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast on Nov. 11, the Russian invaders have shelled this area on a daily basis.
Russian forces heavily shelled Kherson’s city center on Dec. 14. Two floors in the city administration building were damaged in the attack.
On Dec. 15, Russia hit a medical aid station in the center of Kherson, 100 meters away from the building struck the day before. Two people were killed and two wounded in that attack. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a Russian shell hit a Red Cross aid station, killing one of the volunteers.
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