The reporter and his accompanist, the soldier Oleksi Chernychov, had been found dead on March 13, 2022, in a forest north of kyiv.
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The Ukrainian journalist Maks Levin and his guide and friend, soldier Oleksi Chernychov, were “undoubtedly coldly executed” by the Russians, indicates Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), in an investigation report, published Wednesday, June 22 . According to the organization, the two men, found dead, the 1 er April, in a forest on the front line, north of kyiv, were slaughtered “after being probably questioned and tortured by Russian forces, the day of their disappearance “, March 13, 2022.
maks Levin, a 40 -year -old seasoned journalist, nevertheless carried out “no military activity” and was dressed in civilian clothes, said RSF, who investigated in Ukraine, from May 24 to June 3. However, he sported a blue armband, similar to those of Ukrainian soldiers. “Journalists on the front line had to wear this armband, in order to be identified as” friendly presence “by Ukrainian soldiers”, explains the NGO. The proximity of the journalist with some soldiers dates back to 2014 when he covered the Donbass war.
The report also confirms that “Maks Levin was able to provide elements captured by his drone, in particular on the presence of Russian positions, to Ukrainian forces”, with whom he was on the front line, but “the use From his drone first was part of a journalistic approach, “he added. In mid-March, the Russians had not yet given up their offensive on kyiv. The fighting raged north of the capital. Maks Levin covered the Russian invasion by selling his photos and images taken with his drone to the press, especially at the Reuters agency. According to the first testimonies collected by RSF, he was also looking for his aircraft when he was killed. At the start of the Russian offensive, launched on February 24, the reporter also worked for several days as a fixer for the photographer and war reporter Patrick Chauvel, with whom RSF conducted the investigation.
Material evidence
According to a press release from the local Vychhorod (kyiv region), published on April 2, the journalist was the victim of two light arms bullets, drawn by Russian soldiers. “The observations made from the photos of the body of Maks Levin and the discovery of a shot of 15 centimeters in the ground, in the exact place where it was found, indicate that it was probably shot down by a or even Two bullets fired at short distance, while he was already on the ground, “said RSF, who studied the crime scene. “Certain elements, and in particular the position of the body of Oleksi Chernychov, could indicate that it was burned alive,” adds the organization.
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