A British national working in eastern Ukraine as part of a Reuters news team was killed in a missile strike on a hotel on Saturday, the agency confirmed.
Security adviser Ryan Evans was one of six Reuters staff staying at the Sapphire Hotel in the Ukrainian-controlled town of Kramatorsk – close to the front line – when the plane was hit.
Ukrainian authorities said the hotel was hit by a Russian missile. Russia has not commented.
In a statement, a Reuters spokesman said the agency was “devastated” to learn of Mr Evans’ death.
“We are urgently seeking more information about the attack, including through cooperation with the authorities in Kramatorsk, and we support our colleagues and their families,” he said.
“We extend our deepest condolences and thoughts to Ryan’s family and loved ones. Ryan helped many of our journalists cover stories around the world. He will be terribly missed.”
She added that two other team members had been hospitalised following the strike and one was being treated for serious injuries.
Ukrainian national police earlier said the body of a 40-year-old British man was found in the rubble of a hotel at 6:35pm local time (4:35pm BST) on Sunday after a 19-hour search.
Writing on Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent his “condolences to the family and friends” of the slain man.
“This is the daily Russian terror that continues,” he said.
Earlier, Reuters published images showing parts of the hotel completely destroyed by the strike, with firefighters trying to search through the rubble.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office wrote in a statement that the hotel was likely hit by an Iskander-M short-range missile.
Kramatorsk is located only 20 km from the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and is the target of regular attacks, during which civilians are killed, including famous Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina.
The Russian military has been advancing slowly but steadily in the east in recent months, with Ukraine’s recent offensive into Russia seen as an attempt to divert troops from the eastern front line.
Additional reporting by Aleks Phillips
