First media casualty in Ukraine

A 30 year old Italian photographer was killed in eastern Ukraine while covering the violent dispute between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russians. His Russian assistant was also killed after they were caught up in a fire fight.

Andrea Rocchelli was the founder of an Italian photo agency, but also a contributor at French giant “Le Monde” and US Magazine “Newsweek”. The photo journalist was caught in a fierce fire fight between the two sides in the city of Slavyansk.

He was rushed to hospital in Slavynsk, but the doctors could only identify him. His body will be sent to Ukraine today and later this week to Italy. The Italian foreign Ministry said the exact circumstances of his death are unclear because even Ukrainian forces find it very difficult to verify the situation.

“These deaths are horrid reminders that not enough is being done to protect journalist who risk lives reporting from conflict zone in Ukraine,” was OSCE's response.

Andrea Rocchelli was traveling to Slavyansk with a French photographer and their guide. Their car was attacked with automatic fire and mortar shells. The three men found shelter in ditch, but one mortar shell felt very in the ditch killing the Italian photographer on the spot. William Roguelon said he sustained shrapnel woulds to both his legs, but eventually it was the rebels who allowed him to leave the area and seek medical help.