VGTRK
June 24, 2014, in Metallist, Ukraine

Voloshin, 26, sound engineer for the Russian state-owned broadcaster VGTRK, died in a mortar attack near the village of Metallist, outside the eastern city of Lugansk, Russian and international media reported.

Russian media reported that Voloshin, and his VGTRK colleagues, journalist Igor Kornelyuk and cameraman Viktor Denisov, had traveled to the village to film local residents' flight from the conflict area. Reports said that after the crew arrived at a separatists' improvised checkpoint, they separated: Kornleyuk and Voloshin walked with a group of separatists, while Denisov stayed with the residents. The shelling began a few minutes later, severely wounding Kornleyuk and killing Voloshin, VGTRK said. Denisov was unharmed.

VGTRK first reported Voloshin as missing, but later said he died in the attack.

The Russian service of the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty citing witnesses reported that none of the VGTRK crew members were wearing protective gear.

Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko issued a statement calling for a thorough investigation of the attack.

Media Support Worker: In 2003, CPJ began documenting the deaths of vital media employees such as translators, drivers, fixers, and administrative workers.

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