American filmmaker shot dead in Ukraine by Russian troops

An American freelance filmmaker has been shot dead while covering the war in Ukraine, Kyiv police announced on Sunday. 

Brent Renaud, 51, was in a truck with other journalists in Irpen when Russian troops opened fire. He was shot dead and one of his colleagues was injured, according to local authorities. 

Initially, he was thought to have been on assignment for The New York Times because he was carrying a press badge that listed the newspaper as his publication. 

The Times has however issued a statement to clarify that while he worked for them in the past, he was not there on assignment for them.

‘We are deeply saddened to hear of Brent Renaud’s death. Brent was a talented photographer and filmmaker who contributed to The New York Times over the years.

‘Though he had contributed to The Times in the past (most recently in 2015), he was not on assignment for The Times in Ukraine. 

‘Early reports that he worked for The Times circulated because he was wearing a Times press badge that had been issued for an assignment many years ago.’ 

The White House has not commented on Renaud’s death. 

President Biden has taken a firm stance on not sending American troops into the conflict. He has instead sanctioned Putin economically, along with the rest of the Western world, and has given Zelensky arms and aid.  

Renaud with his brother, another filmmaker. The pair are experienced in conflict zones and are understood to have been filming refugees crossing the border when they were killed