Following the death of Reuters Safety Adviser Ryan Evans who was killed in a strike on a hotel in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on Saturday 24 August, Dawn Alford, Director of the Society of Editors, has issued the following statement.

She said: “The Society of Editors is deeply saddened by the death of Reuters Safety Adviser Ryan Evans and we offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues as well as to the family and friends of the two Reuters journalists that were also seriously injured during the attack. 

“The death of Mr Evans and the attack on the journalists that he worked alongside, once again, highlight the immense dangers and risk that journalists and media workers face when reporting from conflict zones and their courage and bravery in putting their lives at risk in pursuit of the truth. We call on all governments to respect the rights of journalists and media works and to ensure that they are given the freedom to fulfil their vital role without violence or harassment.”

Photo: An undated photo of Reuters Safety Adviser Ryan Evans while working in Ukraine