Russian Missile Strike on Reuters Team's Hotel in Ukraine Under Investigation

Ukrainian authorities are conducting an investigation into a Russian missile strike that targeted a hotel accommodating Reuters journalists in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine. The attack, which occurred on August 24, 2023, resulted in the death of a Reuters safety adviser and injuries to several others.

According to Ukrainian intelligence services, the missile was launched from the vicinity of Taganrog, a Russian city on the Sea of Azov coast. Three potential Russian units have been identified as possibly responsible for the attack: the 1st Guards rocket brigade of the 49th Army, the 107th Guards rocket brigade of the 35th Army, and the 47th rocket brigade of the 8th Army.

The Ukrainian military's general staff reported that an Iskander 9M723 ballistic missile was fired at approximately 22:28 local time, striking the Sapphire Hotel seven minutes later. The Iskander-M, known for its accuracy within 30 meters of the intended target, is a short-range ballistic missile system developed by Russia.

Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, responded to inquiries by stating that Russian armed forces only target objects directly or indirectly connected to military infrastructure. The Russian Ministry of Defence did not provide a response to questions about the incident.

Ukrainian authorities are investigating whether the hotel was deliberately targeted. Anastasiia Medvedeva, spokeswoman for the Donetsk region prosecutor's office, stated that they are also examining the possibility of an intentional attack on the group of journalists.

The missile strike caused significant damage to the hotel, with the room of the deceased safety adviser bearing the brunt of the impact. Six other rooms were severely damaged by the blast. The Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise (KSRIFE) analyzed images of the missile wreckage and concluded it was likely an Iskander-M, a weapon not possessed by Ukraine.

Ukrainian Air Force Colonel Yuriy Ihnat reported that their radars detected a single missile in the airspace of Donetsk region on the night of the attack. The projectile appeared to be a short-range Iskander-M launched from Rostov region.

"We know perfectly well that there are no former intelligence officers. ...Western intelligence services are effectively guiding the media outlets they control to spearhead anti-Russia information campaigns."

Reuters refuted these claims, stating that they were factually incorrect and reaffirming their commitment to their Trust Principles of independence, integrity, and freedom from bias.

The Ukrainian military confirmed that the Sapphire Hotel and surrounding buildings had not been used to house soldiers. The hotel's owner, Yuriy Aliyev, stated that since Russia's February 2022 invasion, the hotel operated only for journalists and at management's discretion.

As the investigation continues, this incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by journalists covering the conflict in Ukraine, which has now entered its third year. The attack on a civilian target raises serious concerns about the conduct of military operations and the protection of non-combatants in conflict zones.