Sky News Crew Comes Under Artillery Fire In Russian Ambush

Terrifying footage shows the moment a Sky News crew gets caught up in Russian shelling in Chernihiv, Ukraine.

Special correspondent Alex Crawford and her team were reporting from the last route in or out of the city, through which a convoy was bringing aid to remaining civilians.

But as they passed through an open farmer's field, the Russians targeted it with shelling, and the crew could be seen dropping to the ground.

As Crawford noted that the shelling was 'very close', screaming could be heard, and the team quickly got back inside their van and fled the area.

The team continued filming the 'mad scramble' to evacuate the area as continued shelling could be heard nearby.

You can watch it here:

Reflecting on the incident in her report, Crawford wrote: "Suddenly, a salvo of rockets came raining down on the area sending everyone crashing to the ground. Then mad panic ensued as dozens of vehicles hastily turned around and tried to weave their way through the trees and back out into the open field.

"We saw the lines of civilians now spread-eagled on the ground, then quickly pick themselves up and walk with fresh urgency away from their homes and city. But the attacks didn't stop.

"The Russians had already hit the pedestrian bridge by now but as the civilians and emergency vehicles accelerated away, the strikes followed them.

"Not content with destroying the one route out of the besieged city, the Russian military wanted to cause as much death and injury to those trying to run away too."

It comes after another Sky News team came under attack in Kyiv earlier this month, with a reporter and a cameraman both hit by bullets.

The team were in a car when they heard gunfire, before being peppered with shots. 

In shocking footage, bullets rained down on the car causing the windscreen to break, and amid the chaos the team shouted to the shooters that they were journalists. 

Chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay was hit in the lower back by a bullet, while camera operator Richie Mockler was hit twice; thankfully, the shots were stopped by his body armour. 

Speaking about the attack, Ramsay said: "The first round cracked the windscreen... Camera operator Richie Mockler huddled into the front passenger footwell. Then we were under full attack.

"Bullets cascaded through the whole of the car… the steering wheel and dashboard had disintegrated. I do recall wondering if my death was going to be painful."

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information 

Topics: World News, Russia, Ukraine

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey