An Irish journalist working as a Fox News cameraman, Pierre Zakrzewski, who was killed by Russian shelling in Ukraine on Monday has been described as a passionate and talented individual with an “indomitable” spirit.
The photographer (55) died alongside Ukrainian journalist and producer, Oleksandra Kuvshynova, after the vehicle they were travelling in with reporter Benjamin Hall was struck by incoming fire, the US broadcaster said.
President Michael D Higgins paid tribute, offering his “deepest sympathies” to the family of Mr. Zakrzewski. “The indiscriminate killing of civilians, including journalists, must be brought to an end,” Mr. Higgins said in a statement.
Born in August 1966, Mr. Zakrzewski was the second-eldest of six children: four boys and two girls. His mother was French and his father was Polish, and the family lived in Leopardstown, Co Dublin. He attended St Conleth’s College in Ballsbridge and studied arts at UCD for a time.
Writing in his school yearbook in 2004, Mr. Zakrzewski spoke of the dangers of the job. “I’ve many friends and colleagues who have died so that the world can be better informed,” he wrote, recalling the death of Irish cameraman Simon Cumbers, who was killed in Saudi Arabia earlier that year.
Mr. Zakrzewski said he had covered conflicts in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa and it was a job that suited his personality – “travel, adventure foreign news and seeing humanity at work”.
“My job as a cameraman is simply to inform the general public so that they can put pressure on politicians to implement change in these wonderful countries,” he wrote.
“It’s difficult to explain the attraction to this way of life, but when you experience the emotional roller coaster of war, both positive and negative, as a cameraman I feel I have a duty to tell their story.”
Mr. Zakrzewski was married to a former BBC journalist and they were based in London for the last 15 years.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “deeply disturbed and saddened by the killing of Irish citizen and journalist Pierre Zakrzewski and one of his colleagues today. My thoughts are with their families, friends, and fellow journalists. We condemn this indiscriminate and immoral war by Russia on Ukraine”.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Coveney said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of Mr. Zakrzewski’s “tragic death”.
Mr. Coveney said officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs are in touch with his family and are providing consular assistance.
“The killing of all citizens through this reckless war is deplorable, and I also wish to strongly condemn the targeting of journalists who have been working bravely to shine a light on the plight of Ukraine since the outbreak of hostilities,” Mr. Coveney said in a statement.
“Ireland once again calls on Russia to bring an end to this war and we stand ready to support any initiative which can deliver peace. We will continue to demand accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.”
News source: Irish times