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British photojournalist hit by Russian-backed shelling in Ukraine: 'I am alive' | British photojournalist hit by Russian-backed shelling in Ukraine: 'I am alive' |
(35 minutes later) | |
It took just three simple words on Twitter for Christopher Nunn to tell the world he was safe: “I am alive”. | It took just three simple words on Twitter for Christopher Nunn to tell the world he was safe: “I am alive”. |
But it said nothing about the photojournalist’s traumatic past 24 hours as he was caught up in sudden fighting between the Ukrainian army and Russian-backed separatists. | |
The 33-year-old Briton was photographing from a house in the frontline town of Avdiivka on Thursday when a shell exploded immediately outside. | |
Initial media reports out of Ukraine claimed shrapnel penetrated his left eye, and wounded his right eyelid, and that doctors were fighting to save his vision. | Initial media reports out of Ukraine claimed shrapnel penetrated his left eye, and wounded his right eyelid, and that doctors were fighting to save his vision. |
But speaking to The Independent from hospital, his translator and fixer Vladimir Subotovsky said it was “fake news” and that there was no threat of losing his vision. | But speaking to The Independent from hospital, his translator and fixer Vladimir Subotovsky said it was “fake news” and that there was no threat of losing his vision. |
“One woman said ‘you can visit me’ to take pictures of the neighbourhood,” said the 25-year-old Ukrainian, speaking from Mechnikov hospital in the more central Dnipro city. | |
“We were in the kitchen when shelling started exploding in the neighbourhood. I was going to another room but he stayed in the kitchen and the shell exploded nearby and it blasted the window. | “We were in the kitchen when shelling started exploding in the neighbourhood. I was going to another room but he stayed in the kitchen and the shell exploded nearby and it blasted the window. |
“There was broken glass and plastic hit his face. | “There was broken glass and plastic hit his face. |
“He has a little problem with his left eye. I read in the news that he lost his left eye but it’s not true, it’s fake news. | “He has a little problem with his left eye. I read in the news that he lost his left eye but it’s not true, it’s fake news. |
“He had a little operation on the left eye and an injection and he is now asleep. | “He had a little operation on the left eye and an injection and he is now asleep. |
“It was small pieces from the window – a few small bits of plastic that have been removed.” | “It was small pieces from the window – a few small bits of plastic that have been removed.” |
Mr Subotovsky said the shelling came from Donetsk nine miles south, which unlike Avdiivka, is an anti-government Kremlin-backed stronghold. | Mr Subotovsky said the shelling came from Donetsk nine miles south, which unlike Avdiivka, is an anti-government Kremlin-backed stronghold. |
“We have no idea why they were shelling the town,” he added. | “We have no idea why they were shelling the town,” he added. |
Mr Subotovsky also said the woman in the house was badly injured in last night’s fighting, which reportedly killed two civilians in government-held territory, and two civilians in Donetsk. | Mr Subotovsky also said the woman in the house was badly injured in last night’s fighting, which reportedly killed two civilians in government-held territory, and two civilians in Donetsk. |
He said Mr Nunn, who is expected to stay in hospital for another week, has already been visited by his Ukrainian girlfriend and spoken to his dad via Whatsapp. | |
The Bradford University photography graduate, from Huddersfield, who is believed to have moved to the Donbass area in winter 2014 before war started, has been honoured at a series of UK galleries and exhibitions. | The Bradford University photography graduate, from Huddersfield, who is believed to have moved to the Donbass area in winter 2014 before war started, has been honoured at a series of UK galleries and exhibitions. |
Recent clients, according to his website, include The New Yorker, the Financial Times' Weekend Magazine, Le Monde, Morgenbladet and The Daily Telegraph. | Recent clients, according to his website, include The New Yorker, the Financial Times' Weekend Magazine, Le Monde, Morgenbladet and The Daily Telegraph. |
The ceasefire violations on Thursday killed about 15 people including soldiers, the worst fighting in weeks, and more than 9,700 have died in the three-year conflict. |
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