State-controlled Russian TV stations aired footage of Italian freelance journalist Mattia Sorbi in hospital in Russian-occupied territory after the car in which he was travelling reportedly drove over a mine. His unnamed driver was killed when the two reportedly drove over a mine in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson. Sorbi had been working in Ukraine for the Italian state broadcaster, Rai, and had also worked for the La7 television channel and the newspaper La Repubblica. He had been reported missing by colleagues several days ago. According to the Russian defence ministry, journalist Mattia Sorbi was hurt on 29 August while reporting in the southern Kherson region, where Ukrainian forces have launched a counter offensive against Russian forces. It said that while covering fighting from the Ukrainian side the car he was travelling in hit a mine, seriously injuring the reporter and killing his driver. Russian soldiers reportedly retrieved Sorbi under “heavy fire”, removed him from the vehicle and rushed him to hospital. “Mattia Sorbi was admitted to a resuscitation unit with numerous shrapnel injuries,” the ministry said. But some information remains unclear, including exactly when it happened and how reliable the Russian accounts of what happened are, according to The Guardian. On social media, Mattia Sorbi posted the following message: “Dear friends thank you very much for your solidarity and for all the affection you are showing in these days, worried about my lack of contacts. I am fine and safe, but unfortunately the communication difficulties in Ukraine prevented me from being online as usual. It will probably be like this for a few more days, but the important thing is not to have any problems. I am collecting so many stories to tell you and I will not fail to let you know!”
Russia-Ukraine WarPhysical attack by state armed forces/militaryVerbal, online or physical attack