Ukrainian presidential adviser warns that the days ahead ‘will not be easy’

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Ukrainian photojournalist Maksym Levin in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on January 25. (Stanislav Kozliuk/Reuters)

A Ukrainian photojournalist who worked for several major Western media outlets, including Reuters and the BBC, was killed by Russian forces near kyiv, Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office said on Saturday.

The body of Maksym (Maks) Levin – who was capturing the ongoing conflict – was found with two gunshot wounds in Vyshgorod district, located just north of the capital, the prosecutor general’s office said. in a Facebook postciting preliminary reports.

“According to preliminary information, soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces killed an unarmed Maksym Levin with two shots,” he said. His next of kin have been notified, the office told CNN.

A residential building destroyed by shelling is seen in Borodyanka, Ukraine, March 3.
A residential building destroyed by shelling is seen in Borodyanka, Ukraine, March 3. (Maksym Levin/Reuters)

Photographer Markian Lyseiko told CNN that he had last been in contact with his friend, known as Maks, on March 12, the day before he disappeared in a district north of kyiv, where he had reported on the fighting and flight civilians.

In their last conversations, Lyseiko said Levin asked her to come to the Ukrainian capital so they could cover the war together.

Lyseiko, who has worked alongside Levin since 2014 documenting the war in Donbass, where they embedded Ukrainian soldiers for weeks, described his friend in a March 24 CNN interview as an energetic and tenacious reporter, who often sounded like he “wasn’t afraid.

A Ukrainian soldier hides from a helicopter airstrike near Demydiv, Ukraine on March 10.
A Ukrainian soldier hides from a helicopter airstrike near Demydiv, Ukraine on March 10. (Maksym Levin/Reuters)

Since war broke out eight years ago, Levin wanted to show the world what was happening in Ukraine, especially Russia, Lyseiko said.

“The best way to understand Maks is to look at his work,” Lyseiko said. “When you watch Maks’ movies or see his photos, you will understand him, without words.”

A criminal investigation is underway by the Vyshgorod district prosecutor’s office into alleged violations of the “laws and customs of war”, the prosecutor general’s office said, adding that “steps are being taken to establish all the circumstances of the crime”.

Levin began working as a photojournalist in 2006, according to his biography on LensCulture, a photography resource website. He worked for Ukrainian media outlet LB.ua and was “well known” in his field, having worked with Reuters, BBC, TRT World and Associated Press, according to the attorney general’s office.

In an online statement, LB.ua said Levin is survived by four sons, a civil partner and elderly parents. LB.ua said that in addition to journalism, Levin has worked on dozens of photo and video projects for humanitarian organizations such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF and UN Women.

In his biography, Levin describes himself as a “documentary photographer/videographer, father, human being”.

Ukrainian soldiers take position at the Vasylkiv air base near kyiv on February 27.
Ukrainian soldiers take position at the Vasylkiv air base near kyiv on February 27. (Maksym Levin/Reuters)

Reuters news agency said on Saturday it was “deeply saddened” by Levin’s death.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of long-time Reuters contributor Maksym Levin in Ukraine,” John Pullman, Reuters global editor for visuals, said in a statement to CNN.

“Maks has provided compelling photos and video from Ukraine to Reuters since 2013. His death is a huge loss to the world of journalism. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time,” Pullman said.

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