Ukraine war: Sniper kills fixer and wounds Italian reporter in Ukraine

A Ukrainian writer moving arsenic a fixer for Italy's La Repubblica paper has been changeable dormant by snipers successful Ukraine.

Bogdan Bitik was moving with Italian newsman Corrado Zunino, who was wounded, erstwhile they were ambushed by suspected Russian snipers successful the Kherson region, the paper said.

Both were wearing bulletproof vests with "Press" written connected them, it added.

Russia claims to person annexed Kherson contempt lone controlling immoderate of it.

The reporters were targeted adjacent the Antonivskyi span crossed the Dnipro stream adjacent the determination capital, which sits connected the river's westbound bank.

Russian troops destroyed the span erstwhile they withdrew from the occidental broadside of the stream past November. Ukrainian forces are present reported to person acceptable up positions connected the eastbound slope nearby.

The reporters had passed 3 checkpoints and the Ukrainian subject had fto them done "without problem", Mr Zunino said successful a telephone speech with his newspaper.

He past heard a "hiss" and saw his workfellow lifeless connected the ground.

"We were hit. I saw Bogdan connected the ground, helium wasn't moving," helium said

"I crawled until I got retired of the enactment of fire. I ran until I came crossed a civilian's car. I was covered successful blood.

"I tried respective times to telephone Bogdan, helium didn't answer," helium said.

Mr Zunino is being treated successful infirmary successful Kherson.

Bitik "unfortunately did not marque it", the paper wrote, adding that helium leaves down his woman and a son.

"He was a large person of mine, the symptom is excruciating," Mr Zunino said.

The paper said it was proving hard to retrieve Mr Bitik's assemblage due to the fact that of Russian snipers.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Italian media that the Russians were liable for the killing.

"Russians don't attraction if you're Russian, Italian oregon Ukrainian, they conscionable shoot," helium said.

Moscow has not yet commented.

Kherson portion is partially Russian-held and crossing the Dnipro stream could beryllium important successful aboriginal offensives.

Ukraine's subject has for immoderate clip publically spoken astir preparations for a large counter-offensive, without specifying wherever and erstwhile it could beryllium launched.

Until now, each of the Kherson portion connected the eastbound slope of the Dnipro has been nether Russian control, with the wide stream serving arsenic a earthy barrier.

The determination superior - sitting connected the westbound slope - was liberated by Ukrainian forces past November.