Oleksa Zhovtyi

Affiliated media: Ukrainian Witness, Journalist

Incident date: April 4, 2025

Attack type:

• Attempted murder

Who attacked: от военных

Source: National Union of Journalists of Ukraine

Location: Ukraine, Kharkiv Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast

Additional information:

A film crew from the Ukrainian Witness project came under attack by an enemy drone approximately 20 kilometers from the front line while accompanying soldiers from the 15th Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. The strike, carried out by a Lightning UAV, guided by the operator as an FPV, rendered their Nissan Navara pickup inoperable. Journalist Oleksa Zhovtyi and the servicemen were en route to film the firing position of a Hiatsynt-B towed cannon when the drone hit. The explosion resembled that of a mine. Two soldiers sustained minor injuries, while the brigade’s press officer, Ihor Lavrov, was more seriously wounded. The crew and soldiers quickly abandoned the vehicle and took shelter in a nearby building to call for evacuation and assess injuries.