Brent Renaud, an American filmmaker and journalist, was 51 years old.
On Sunday morning, Brent Renaud, an American filmmaker and journalist who had previously been with The New York Times, was tragically killed while reporting on the refugee crisis arising from the Russia-Ukraine war.
It was reported in the corporate press, in almost unanimous fashion, that Russia was responsible for his passing, even though no evidence had emerged to confirm this claim, which was disseminated by Ukrainian officers at the crime scene.
US film-maker Brent Renaud killed by Russian forces in Ukraine https://t.co/qr14kfd2S0
— Guardian US (@GuardianUS) March 13, 2022
New York Times reporter gunned down by Russian troops https://t.co/oQ0v8lQRag
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 13, 2022
In a moment’s notice, powerful world leaders and individuals routinely condemned Russia for the tragic death of the American citizen. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and State Department Spokesman Ned Price were two of many to show their contempt for Moscow’s alleged act.
There’s just one big problem with that narrative.
All of the available evidence we have points to the Ukrainians, not the Russians, being responsible for the tragic shooting of Renaud.
This morning, Renaud and his crew, which had been contracted with Time Magazine, were traveling through the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine’s capital city, and on their way to document the plight of the refugee situation.
Putin’s barbaric actions murdering Brent Renaud and other innocent civilians are testing not just Ukraine but all of humanity.
Speaking to President @ZelenskyyUa I assured him that we will continue to do all that we can to bring an end to this disastrous conflict.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 13, 2022
We are horrified that journalists and filmmakers—noncombatants—have been killed and injured in Ukraine by Kremlin forces. We extend condolences to all those affected by this horrific violence. This is yet another gruesome example of the Kremlin’s indiscriminate actions.
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) March 13, 2022
The Ukrainians’ Side
According to the Ukrainian soldiers on the scene, Renaud’s vehicle came under fire from Russian forces, resulting in his death. After Renaud was killed, Ukrainian police and public affairs officials took videos and photos of Renaud’s still warm body, and posted the display on the internet for the world to see.
Renaud’s body was put on display, they said, to showcase the indiscriminate brutality of the Russians.
Andrey Nebitov, the leader of the National Police for the Kiev region, was one of the first, if not the first Ukrainian official to accuse Russian troops of killing Renaud. Several other Ukrainian officials then echoed Nebitov’s claims, describing the Russians as responsible.
Head of the Kyiv Police Department says that Russian troops opened fire on a car with foreign journalists in and shot dead 51-year-old New York Times videojournalist Brent Renaud in Irpin. One of his colleagues is injured and is in hospital. #Ukraine
— Nick Stylianou (@nmsonline) March 13, 2022
But since the initial Ukrainian PR campaign, compelling evidence, in addition to multiple eyewitness testimony, has emerged to tell a very different story of the day’s events.
The Real Story
Shortly after the incident occurred, a video was posted to social media, with Renaud’s body on display in the background. In the video (CONTENT WARNING), a Ukrainian soldier says the shooting occurred in the settlement of Romanovka.
Ukrainian man in the video says the US journalist was killed during the shelling in the area of Romanovka, which is located behind Irpen, which is controlled by Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/OEhY0RAdka
— EL ZAR Del Ejido 4T (@RanchoSovietico) March 13, 2022
The location of the incident is very significant, because it established that the shooting took place well within a swath of territory that remains within the lines controlled by Ukrainian forces. Now, it’s certainly possible that troop movements shifted in those early hours, but there is no documented evidence of Russian troops being anywhere near the crime scene, before during, or after the incident. The Russians have in recent days repeatedly shelled the entire area, but Renaud was killed by nearby gunfire.
5 year old Cannon Hinant gets headshot by diversity and Republicans don’t even look up from choking on Globohomoschlomo’s balls and all.
Lefttard journalist gets mistaken for Russian Intel and get himself shot by his own team and Republicans demand WWIII.
Stop this shit show and let me get off.
Wasn’t Renaud involved with the 9/11 hoax filming a “plane” hitting the North Tower?
4 chan him as a CIA asset. Bet they’re right .
If people would just accept what the government and media tells them, they will be happy. We all know critical thought is a conspiracy theory.
Putin caught red-handed judo throwing pedo journalists out of incubators.
99% of “war” journalists are shit bag war profiteers just like the MIC. Fuckers were paying snipers to pop civilians in Sarajevo between 92 and 95 to get footage of it happening.
The only two guys I have seen in the last 20 years that were remotely honest are Sebastián Junger and Tim Hetherington (rip).
The rest of the rotten vultures get what they earned. Like that press badge is invulnerability lol.
Journalists are pawns more now than ever before. The first ones that need to be reckoned with are the yellow journalists.
ZFG, out.
P.S. dont catch rides with strangers in a warzone heading towards the shooting. That is basic survival 101 for Balkan/ Eastern Europe combat areas.
As long as geraldo is ok.
LOL gurney acting.
The one thing I’ve learned from this is that Ukranians are even more likely to lie than US liberals. And that’s saying something.