Latest news with #AnnaProkofieva
Russia Today
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
They film until the bombs hit, then film that too: Meet brave Russians risking it all for truth
On March 26, tragic news of the death of Anna Prokofieva, a war correspondent for Channel One, quickly spread through Russian and international media. The young journalist, known for her courageous reporting and exclusive frontline footage, died after stepping on a Ukrainian landmine in Russia's Belgorod region. Shortly before her death, Izvestia reporter Aleksandr Fedorchak, Zvezda channel cameraman Andrey Panov, and driver Aleksandr Sirkeli were killed by a Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) artillery strike in the Lugansk People's Republic. Several other journalists were wounded. Every day, war correspondents knowingly put themselves in harm's way to carry out their work. The risks are growing, but that hasn't stopped them. In conversations with RT, military journalists spoke about what it's like to work in the war zone – and why they continue taking these risks. 'She truly lived for her work' The image of a smiling, striking young woman stands in stark contrast to the life of a war correspondent constantly reporting from Ukraine's most dangerous hotspots. But Anna Prokofieva was someone who embodied that contradiction. Her death was widely reported across Russian and foreign outlets, and she will be remembered for her courage and her presence on some of the toughest frontlines. 'We always admired how she would choose the most dangerous parts of the front line,' said Dmitry Kulko, a Channel One war correspondent. 'She knew a lot of people there. The soldiers respected her and often brought her along. During the key phase of liberating Sudzha, she was with the troops on the western front in the occupied part of Kursk region. As our forces advanced, she was right there with them. She wasn't afraid of anything, she always moved forward. She wanted to show what was really happening. That was important to her – she truly lived for her work.' Anna Prokofieva, war correspondent for Channel One, April 8, 1989 — March 26, 2025. © Social network According to Kulko, Anna didn't originally plan to go to the war zone as a journalist. At first, she simply wanted to help. She brought humanitarian aid to Donetsk. But over time, she realized she wanted to show the world what was going on and tell those stories. Despite having no formal journalistic background, she was hired as a war correspondent at Channel One because of her deep desire to help the people living through the conflict – and the soldiers she respected. When she first arrived, some people said she was too vibrant, too beautiful – they called it 'glamorous war reporting,'' Kulko said. 'But very soon, her courage shut down those comments. She brought back exclusive footage from the thick of battle. To do that, you have to share the risks with the soldiers. And she was always ready to do that.' He added that as early as 2014, it had become clear that journalists were being targeted by Ukrainian forces in the same way as senior officers. Dmitry Kulko, Channel One war correspondent. 'The world needs the truth. That's why we're there.' The loss of colleagues is something war correspondents carry with them constantly. 'War brings both the sorrow of loss and the joy of victory. Every time I hear about the death of a friend, a colleague, or another journalist, I start replaying moments in my mind – where we met, the last time we saw each other,' says Stanislav Obishchenko, a journalist with the Reporters project. 'Even if you only spoke with someone for a few minutes, at the front they become more than just a passing acquaintance. They're real, strong people who consciously chose this path. And they stay with you – in your memory, in your heart. You might shake hands or exchange a few words with hundreds of people during your time in the war zone. You forget most of them. But when their photo suddenly appears in the news, it all comes back. You remember the warmth of their handshake. And it feels like you've lost a friend.' Stanislav Obishchenko, journalist with the Reporters project. © Social network Obishchenko says that when he finds out someone he knew has been killed, he isolates himself for a while, opens up old chats and photos – whatever is left behind – and tries to remember every detail of their time together. 'At the end of last year, there were thirty names on that list. More have been added since then. Sure, we're brave, we're professionals. But we're also mortal. As Mikhail Bulgakov wrote, we are 'unexpectedly mortal.'' The first colleague Obishchenko lost on the front was Anatoly Klyan, killed when Ukrainian forces opened fire on a bus carrying soldiers' mothers. Obishchenko is convinced it was a deliberate attack. Since then, he believes, Russian journalists have become regular targets. 'They were shot at with anti-aircraft guns even when they were among refugees. That was the case with Andrey Stenin, Sergey Korentchenkov, and Andrey Vyachyalo. Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin were hit with mortar fire on a road near Lugansk. There were missile strikes. Artillery. Then came terrorist attacks – Vladlen Tatarsky, Darya Dugina,' he says. His friend, Semyon Yeryomin, was killed in a drone strike. Later, the Ukrainian military published the footage of his death – as if to send a message. Semyon Yeryomin, military reporter for Izvestia. February 25, 1982 – April 19, 2024. 'Since 2014, the enemy has acted with extraordinary cynicism – more so than in other wars. For them, journalists were always targets. They see us as propagandists, as people who expose their crimes. After the start of the Special Military Operation, it got even worse. There are drones everywhere. Drone pilots can clearly see who's on the move, but they still attack us. These are targeted strikes. It's a hunt for journalists. And yet, we keep going. The world needs the truth. That's why we're there.' Obishchenko says the danger can't really be reduced. You either report from the front or you don't. Still, there are rules for staying alive: move only with the military, undergo emergency medical training, and know how to drive a stick shift. 'All of this might save your life. And not just yours – it could save someone close to you, someone you care about.' 'You climb on the tank and go' For seasoned war correspondents, fear isn't the main concern anymore. Their focus is on getting the job done. In fall 2024, Denis Kulaga, a military reporter for Izvestia, was wounded near Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People's Republic. He was supposed to move on foot with the troops, but the company commander suggested using a quad bike instead. Kulaga admits the idea shook him. Denis Kulaga, military reporter for Izvestia. © Social network 'He saw I was scared,' Kulaga says. 'And he said, 'Give the camera to the guys, let them film everything, and you can just do the voiceover later.' Maybe that would've been safer. But I think that if you've come as a journalist and you have a mission, you have to do your job. Even though I knew we might die, I said yes. That's our job. You know it could mean death, but you climb onto the tank anyway. Even when it's leaving from a hidden position, even when they're using electronic warfare – it doesn't mean you're safe. Still, you go. You don't back out.' Their quad bike was hit by an FPV drone. Kulaga suffered shrapnel wounds to both legs, along with burns and fractures. He's still struggling to walk, but he says that as soon as he's able, he'll return to the front. 'My only issue is that I can't walk properly right now. But God willing, when I recover, I'll go back. For me, like for most real war correspondents, losing a colleague is a huge tragedy and deep sorrow – but it's not a reason to quit. Before my own injury, we buried many friends. That never stopped us. Our goal is to show that the Russian army really is advancing. This isn't fake news. That's why we go where we might be killed. That's where propaganda and counter-propaganda clash. When we say we're advancing, the other side denies it and brings their own arguments. But to prove otherwise, you have to be there. You have to bring back footage from the very place where the fighting is happening. That's how it was in 2022, and that's how it still is today.' Kulaga says the SMO is tougher than any other conflict he's covered. He's previously reported from the Tajik-Afghan border, during the second Karabakh war, and spent almost two years in Syria. 'The SMO is something else entirely. What I've seen since mid-2023… The first time I encountered an FPV drone, I didn't even know what it was. I just heard this terrifying noise. We had no idea what kind of horror those drones would bring. Before, even if you weren't right on the front lines, you could still follow the troops into assaults and film things safely. Now, that's unthinkable.' Izvestia reporter Aleksandr Fedorchak. July 29, 1996 — March 24, 2025. © Social network He says the Ukrainian forces don't make any distinctions. 'They don't care if you're a journalist or if someone's wounded. If they see a target, they eliminate it. We were unarmed – just a camera in my hands – and they still hit us with a drone. It killed the wounded commander. I get the feeling they're happy when a journalist dies. It brings them joy. It's like they celebrate over our bodies. For them, a journalist's death matters more than a successful counterattack. They don't see us as the biggest threat, but Russian correspondents are often on the front lines. Ukrainian journalists rarely go there. Our reporting creates confusion in the ranks of the AFU. It makes it harder for Ukrainian journalists to raise morale. So, the less information we provide, the better it is for them.' 'Those who work, die' The fact that Russian journalists are killed more frequently those on the Ukrainian side, war correspondent Alexey Larkin claims, is a reflection of how much more actively Russian reporters work near the front. 'It's not about being targeted specifically as journalists,' he explains. 'That's a myth. The enemy just hits anything within range. Through a drone's camera, it's almost impossible to distinguish a soldier from a journalist – unless you're clearly not holding a weapon. That's the only difference.' War correspondent Alexey Larkin. But the nature of this conflict, Larkin says, has made it far more dangerous for reporters than any previous war. 'We've crossed a line with the rise of kamikaze drones. War without drones now feels like a walk in the park compared to this. Drones are not just a threat to your life – they create constant tension that makes it hard to concentrate, hard to work. You can't pause to set up a thoughtful shot, or conduct an interview in peace. You have to move fast. Because of that, we mostly film indoors now or farther from the actual front line.' He adds that the Ukrainian army is the toughest opponent Russian forces have faced in decades. The war has little in common with conflicts in Africa or the Middle East. The weapons involved – FPV drones, Turkish Bayraktar drones, HIMARS rocket systems, magnetic and petal mines, and even drones allegedly laced with toxins to prevent capture – all make this battlefield something else entirely. That's why I say Russian military journalists are the most experienced in the world today,' Larkin says. 'We've had to become experts in tactical medicine. The equipment matters too – off-road vehicles that don't break down, expensive EW systems, drone detection tools. Not every newsroom can afford that kind of gear, but it saves lives.' Today, he says, working on the front requires a much more strategic approach. Every trip feels like a military operation in itself and must be planned with precision. 'The more thoroughly a journalist plans their day, the safer it is for everyone involved. But even that doesn't guarantee survival.' On March 24, 2025, Andrei Panov (R), an operator for the TV channel "Zvezda", and Alexander Sirkeli (L), a driver for the film crew, were killed in a targeted strike by two HIMARS rockets on a civilian vehicle carrying journalists. © "Zvezda" TV channel According to Larkin, the biggest difference between a true war correspondent and someone just chasing a story is that the real ones will go to the front no matter what. 'They'll go, whether they're protected or not. That's what motivates them – it's their purpose. Real war correspondents take risks every single day. They've accepted those risks. That's why they die. Because unless you're ready to risk your life, unless you're willing to break the rules, you won't survive in this profession. That's just how it is.' And with that, Larkin sums up the mindset that unites all who work in war zones. 'It's inevitable. Those who really work, die. Sooner or later, one assignment will be your last. And everyone understands that – it's part of the job. Every war correspondent I know, including myself, accepts this calmly and rationally.'
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian War Correspondent Known For Glam Combat Photos Reportedly Killed In Mine Explosion
A Russian journalist who worked for the state-run television network Channel One was reportedly killed after her car struck an 'enemy mine' in the western Belgorod region, near the Ukrainian border. Military correspondent Anna Prokofieva, 35, was mourned in a Wednesday statement from her employer, which said she 'died while performing her professional duty.' According to the pro-Kremlin outlet, the explosion also seriously wounded her colleague, cameraman Dmitry Volkov. Prokofieva had been covering the war since 2023 and was known for sharing stylish images of herself from the combat zones she covered. In her final social media post on Telegram, shared Tuesday, she posed in military fatigues and a head-mounted camera, captioning the image: 'Somewhere on the border with country 404.' The phrase, a reference to the '404 file not found' webpage error, has been adopted by pro-Russian military bloggers as a derogatory term for Ukraine. Following reports of Prokofieva's death, which has not been independently verified, Kremlin foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Ukrainian forces of deliberately targeting Russian journalists in direct violation of international law. 'Journalists could die en masse in connection with a natural disaster,' Zakharova said in a statement quoted by The Telegraph. 'Today this natural disaster is called the 'terrorist Kiev regime.'' Prokofieva's death comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Kyiv had recently launched a series of small-scale attacks on Belgorod, believed to be an attempt to relieve pressure on the separate Russian border region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces are in the midst of a reported retreat. The journalist's death also coincides with fragile ceasefire agreements between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea region. While both nations signed separate deals with the United States on Tuesday, each has accused the other of violating the terms. U.S. Says It Brokered Safe Shipping In The Black Sea In Talks With Ukraine And Russia U.S. And Russian Negotiators Launch Ceasefire Talks In Saudi Arabia Trump Reveals When He'll Next Talk With Putin
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian journalist blown up by mine on Ukrainian border
A Russian TV war correspondent has been killed by a mine while working near the Ukrainian border. Anna Prokofieva, who worked for Russia's state-run Channel One, was travelling in a car that hit an 'enemy mine' in Russia's western Belgorod region, her employer said. She 'died while performing her professional duty', the TV channel wrote in a statement, adding that the blast also wounded her colleague, cameraman Dmitry Volkov. Ms Prokofieva, 35, joined the channel in 2023 and had frequently reported from inside occupied Ukraine. She had also recently covered Ukraine's retreat from Suzha, the main settlement captured by Kyiv during its incursion into Russia's Kursk region. Her last online post was dated Tuesday and showed her smiling in a forest, wearing military fatigues and a head-mounted camera. 'Somewhere on the border with country 404', she captioned the photo, in a derogatory reference to the '404 file not found' internet error that pro-Kremlin military bloggers use to refer to Ukraine. Several Russian journalists have been killed in the three-year conflict, with their deaths highly publicised back home. Confirming Ms Prokofieva's death, Maria Zakharova, the Kremlin's foreign ministry spokesman, accused Ukraine of frequently and deliberately targeting Russian media workers. 'Journalists could die en masse in connection with a natural disaster. Today this natural disaster is called the 'terrorist Kiev regime',' Ms Zakharova said. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's press secretary, was reported by the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper to have emphasised that Ms Prokofieva's death was yet another loss of a Russian journalist. 'Our condolences go first and foremost to Anna's family', Peskov was quoted as saying. He was also said to have expressed his condolences to the entire staff of the television channel that employed her. The Izvestia newspaper reported that the Brics Journalists Association, representing media workers in the Kremlin-led intergovernmental organisation, had appealed to Unesco over what it claimed was the 'murder' of Russian correspondents. 'One cannot pretend because of political differences that there is no problem with the murders of journalists from Russia and it is necessary to prevent discrimination against Russian journalists,' Ivan Melnikov, director of the department for journalists' rights at the Brics association, was quoted as saying in an address to Audrey Azoulay, the Unesco director-general. Ms Prokofieva's death comes two days after the Kremlin accused Ukraine of killing Russian journalists in a 'targeted' Himars missile strike in occupied eastern Ukraine. The attack killed Alexander Fedorchak, a war correspondent from Izvestia, a major Russian newspaper, as well as cameraman Andrei Panov and their driver Alexander Sirkeli. The strike in Luhansk killed six in total, according to Russian authorities, including a 14-year-old child. Another correspondent from Russia's Zvezda state news channel, Nikita Goldin, is reported to be in critical condition. Kyiv has not yet commented on the reports, which have not been independently verified. The attack was 'systematic and planned', Ms Zakharova claimed, without providing evidence. Russia's investigative committee said it had opened a criminal case. It came the same day Ukraine destroyed four Russian helicopters using US-supplied Himars missiles in Belgorod. Unconfirmed reports also suggested it used the launchers to destroy two key bridges close to the border. Ukrainian forces have launched small-scale attacks inside Belgorod over the past week, in what are thought to be attempts to relieve pressure on neighbouring Kursk, where a Russian counter-offensive has pushed Kyiv's troops back to a sliver of territory on the border. Kyiv has also repeatedly accused Moscow of deliberately targeting journalists reporting on the conflict. At least 21 journalists have been killed in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). However, other estimates put the number higher. It comes amid growing uncertainty about the fate of a ceasefire agreed in the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday after both sides accused each other of breaching the fragile terms. The United States reached separate deals on Tuesday with Ukraine and Russia to cease fighting in the Black Sea and pause attacks against energy targets, with Washington agreeing to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow. While Kyiv agreed to start the truce immediately, the Kremlin said on Wednesday that a number of conditions must be met before it comes into force, which involve the lifting of international sanctions. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Russian journalist blown up by mine on Ukrainian border
A Russian TV war correspondent has been killed by a mine while working near the Ukrainian border. Anna Prokofieva, who worked for Russia's state-run Channel One, was travelling in a car that hit an 'enemy mine' in Russia's western Belgorod region, her employer said. She 'died while performing her professional duty', the TV channel wrote in a statement, adding that the blast also wounded her colleague, cameraman Dmitry Volkov. Ms Prokofieva, 35, joined the channel in 2023 and had frequently reported from inside occupied Ukraine. She had also recently covered Ukraine's retreat from Suzha, the main settlement captured by Kyiv during its incursion into Russia's Kursk region. Her last online post was dated Tuesday and showed her smiling in a forest, wearing military fatigues and a head-mounted camera. 'Somewhere on the border with country 404', she captioned the photo, in a derogatory reference to the '404 file not found' internet error that pro-Kremlin military bloggers use to refer to Ukraine. Several Russian journalists have been killed in the three-year conflict, with their deaths highly publicised back home. Confirming Ms Prokofieva's death, Maria Zakharova, the Kremlin's foreign ministry spokesman, accused Ukraine of frequently and deliberately targeting Russian media workers. 'Journalists could die en masse in connection with a natural disaster. Today this natural disaster is called the 'terrorist Kiev regime',' Ms Zakharova said. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's press secretary, was reported by the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper to have emphasised that Ms Prokofieva's death was yet another loss of a Russian journalist. 'Our condolences go first and foremost to Anna's family', Peskov was quoted as saying. He was also said to have expressed his condolences to the entire staff of the television channel that employed her. The Izvestia newspaper reported that the Brics Journalists Association, representing media workers in the Kremlin-led intergovernmental organisation, had appealed to Unesco over what it claimed was the 'murder' of Russian correspondents. 'One cannot pretend because of political differences that there is no problem with the murders of journalists from Russia and it is necessary to prevent discrimination against Russian journalists,' Ivan Melnikov, director of the department for journalists' rights at the Brics association, was quoted as saying in an address to Audrey Azoulay, the Unesco director-general. Ms Prokofieva's death comes two days after the Kremlin accused Ukraine of killing Russian journalists in a 'targeted' Himars missile strike in occupied eastern Ukraine. The attack killed Alexander Fedorchak, a war correspondent from Izvestia, a major Russian newspaper, as well as cameraman Andrei Panov and their driver Alexander Sirkeli. 'Systematic and planned' attack The strike in Luhansk killed six in total, according to Russian authorities, including a 14-year-old child. Another correspondent from Russia's Zvezda state news channel, Nikita Goldin, is reported to be in critical condition. Kyiv has not yet commented on the reports, which have not been independently verified. The attack was 'systematic and planned', Ms Zakharova claimed, without providing evidence. Russia's investigative committee said it had opened a criminal case. It came the same day Ukraine destroyed four Russian helicopters using US-supplied Himars missiles in Belgorod. Unconfirmed reports also suggested it used the launchers to destroy two key bridges close to the border. Ukrainian forces have launched small-scale attacks inside Belgorod over the past week, in what are thought to be attempts to relieve pressure on neighbouring Kursk, where a Russian counter-offensive has pushed Kyiv's troops back to a sliver of territory on the border. Kyiv has also repeatedly accused Moscow of deliberately targeting journalists reporting on the conflict. At least 21 journalists have been killed in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). However, other estimates put the number higher. It comes amid growing uncertainty about the fate of a ceasefire agreed in the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday after both sides accused each other of breaching the fragile terms. The United States reached separate deals on Tuesday with Ukraine and Russia to cease fighting in the Black Sea and pause attacks against energy targets, with Washington agreeing to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow. While Kyiv agreed to start the truce immediately, the Kremlin said on Wednesday that a number of conditions must be met before it comes into force, which involve the lifting of international sanctions.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian TV journalist killed by landmine near Ukraine border
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian state TV journalist was killed and her cameraman was seriously injured by a landmine in Russia's Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine, state television said on Wednesday. War correspondent Anna Prokofieva and cameraman Dmitry Volkov ran over a landmine planted by the Ukrainian military, the Pervy Kanal TV channel said in a statement. Prokofieva, 35, "died while performing her professional duty", it said. Russia's southern Belgorod region has come under frequent drone and shelling attacks from Ukraine with unconfirmed reports of ground fighting there amid a Ukrainian retreat from Kursk, another Russian region bordering Ukraine. Earlier this week an artillery strike killed six people including two Russian journalists and their driver who were on assignment in Moscow-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine's Luhansk region, Russian authorities and media said. Almost 20 media workers have been killed since Russia's February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to data provided by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
