At the beginning of April it was already known that the Ukrainian journalist Maks Levin and his companion, a Ukrainian soldier, had been killed near Kiev. But while it was first believed to have happened during hostilities, a report from Reporters Without Borders reveals that the two were brutally executed by Russian forces and may have been tortured beforehand…
In March there had been heavy fighting in front of the village of Moschchun, some 20 kilometers from Kiev, and a Russian convoy had attempted to advance towards the capital. War material is still everywhere, half of the houses in the area have been completely destroyed, reporters without borders report. They were investigating the disappearance and death of Maks Levin, a Ukrainian photojournalist, and his companion, a Ukrainian soldier.
Evidence of execution in cold blood
Their bodies were discovered in a forest on April 1. An investigation revealed that the two had already been murdered on March 13. Now two Reporters Without Borders investigators have found clear evidence that both were executed in cold blood.
Levin lost his drone in the woods on March 10, but had to withdraw due to heavy fighting. When he returned three days later to search for the drone, he and his companion never returned. “Maks wanted to keep the last few images from the drone. He thought that was very important,” says Patrick Chauvel, who researched the scene for Reporters Without Borders and had worked extensively with Levin.
Car set on fire, evidence of torture
Levin’s car, an old Ford Maverick, was still on the scene but was set on fire, apparently to destroy evidence, Reporters Without Borders reported. Projectiles and equipment belonging to the Russian soldiers were also found on the spot. It was also possible to obtain evidence of torture on the spot, as well as DNA traces. Now Reporters Without Borders wants to work with detectives against war crimes in Ukraine to try to clarify the remaining open questions.
“Analysis of crime scene photos, on-site observations and physical evidence found clearly point to an execution that may have been preceded by interrogation or even torture. Against the backdrop of a war heavily influenced by propaganda and Kremlin censorship, Maks Levin paid and his friend their fight for reliable information with their lives. We owe them the truth. And we will fight to identify and find those who executed them.” Christoph Deloire, Secretary General of Reporters Without Borders.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
