Within days, two journalists from Germany and Japan were wounded on Ukrainian soil under Kyiv’s control, according to Reports from press freedom organizations. The incident underscores the ongoing dangers faced by correspondents covering the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The international NGO representing journalists cited the details as part of its ongoing monitoring of safety for media workers in war zones.
On Saturday, December 31, Wataru Sehita, a journalist for the Asahi newspaper, sustained a shrapnel wound to his ankle while he was near his hotel in Kyiv. The injury occurred amid heightened security tensions in the capital, where street scenes and hotel vicinity operations frequently shift with shelling and air alerts. Sehita’s colleague, Norito Konisue, who was at the hotel at the time, did not suffer injuries. The NGO noted that Sehita had been receiving medical assessment and the care of local authorities as part of standard procedures for reporters injured in conflict zones.
The second injury occurred on January 2, when Bjorn Stritzel, a reporter for the German newspaper Bild, received minor shrapnel wounds to his face following an explosion near his hotel in Druzhkovka, a town located close to Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region. The incident arrived at a moment when foreign journalists were attempting live coverage from the region, often under the pressure of rapid movements on the ground and the risks associated with ongoing military activity. Coverage teams frequently coordinate with local translators, security personnel, and newsroom editors to ensure the safety of crew members while delivering timely reports to their audiences.
These events intersected with a live broadcast on air shows around the same period. A notable moment occurred when reporter Paul Gasnier was on location in Druzhkovka for a program associated with a French broadcast outlet. Gasnier was delivering a live segment as a vehicle passed through the frame, and an explosion occurred in the background. The incident provided a vivid illustration of the volatility reporters face when attempting to document developments as they unfold. Observers highlighted the importance of situational awareness and the role of on-site producers who manage risk while keeping viewers informed. These events have been referenced in briefings about media safety and the need for robust protective measures for correspondents operating in conflict zones [cited press safety reports].