Hundreds of journalists rushed to Ukraine to tell the world about the dreaded Russian invasion. However, the growing number of information workers injured in recent days is a reminder of the dangerousness of the profession, which requires preparation and composure. Do not improvise war journalist who wants.
“To arrive without a fixer, without equipment, without knowing the country and without experience of conflict, it is absolutely suicidal. This is underestimating the danger! protests freelance journalist Alexis Gilli, currently in Odessa, southern Ukraine.
Equipped with his cameras, a helmet and a bulletproof vest, and accompanied by a fixer – a local interpreter and guide – he arrived on February 26 in the port city, from where he multiplies the direct France Télévisions or the Belgian channel Les News 24.
Although he is only 22 years old, Alexis Gilli already has five years of experience during which he covered various conflicts, notably in Chad and Pakistan. He would never have set foot in Ukraine without a minimum of experience and preparation, he assures us. The influx of reporters who left on a whim, without any organization, worried him a lot. “Every day, I receive dozens of messages from young people, journalists or not, who ask me for advice on crossing the border. […] These kids, they’re going to die, they’ll never come back. »
As in many armed conflicts, media workers in Ukraine put their lives at risk every day to report what is happening and give civilians a voice. But unlike other wars, the past few days have shown that journalists are regularly targeted.
According to a report compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a Ukrainian cameraman has already lost his life in the bombing of the Kiev television tower, and a dozen foreign journalists have been shot at. Among them, two reporters from the Danish daily Ekstra Bladet were seriously injured ten days ago. Last week, a reporter for the British news channel Sky News was shot in the lower back; his colleague was saved by his bulletproof vest.
On Sunday, a Swiss photojournalist, Guillaume Briquet, was injured by gunfire from the Russian army as he was traveling towards Odessa with a car marked “Press”. In interview at Geneva Grandstandthe experienced war reporter issued a warning to “journalists who are not professional in war zones and who do not have ballistic equipment corresponding to weapons of war”, advising them to leave the country.
“This is extremely dangerous territory. Even experienced journalists are taken by surprise […] I understand the attraction for a young journalist to find himself in the theater of operations, but it’s a thing to think about,” warns Michel Cormier, former director of information at Radio-Canada and member of the board. Board of RSF.
To those who would still like to venture there, he advises to absolutely bring protective equipment and have first aid training. “You need good means of communication, telling someone outside the country where you are and where you are going,” he adds. Having received training on risky situations is even better. Reacting quickly and well in the event of fire or bombardment cannot be improvised.
Measure the danger
For the independent journalist Romain Sines, we must also measure the danger and not hesitate to take a step back. “There’s no point in being a hothead. Our job is to tell what is happening, not to stay there, otherwise we will no longer be able to do it. The contributor to the international channel TV5Monde decided to leave the country last week when his fixer dropped him to put his family in safety. “Without transport, without protection, without a fixer, I could no longer practice my trade correctly, safely. »
From France, Romain Sines is getting organized to leave. But the search for a new fixer turns out to be more complicated than expected. “It’s expensive, it’s starting to be a luxury because they are becoming rare: either they are afraid, and that’s understandable, or they are called upon to fight,” he explains.
Independent journalist Ines Gil, who works on Les News 24 and Europe 1 radio, among others, made the same observation. She still left with her photographer colleague without the help of a fixer. Aware of the danger, they made part of the journey with a humanitarian association and chose to stop in Ivankovychi, a village south of Kiev. “When we had warning sirens, we took shelter. We are surrounded by people who know how to react, I think that really makes things easier, she underlines. […] We stay very informed and, at the slightest danger, we can move quickly. This is what they did on Tuesday morning when they learned that the Russian armed forces were approaching the village.
Other foreign reporters have instead decided to stay in the west of the country, spared from the bombardments. But the vast majority of the media are mainly found in neighboring countries to talk about these millions of refugees who continue, day after day, to cross borders, fleeing their native country which they may never find again.