DPR venerates memory of Russian journalist Andrey Stenin killed 5 years ago

Donetsk, Aug 6 – DAN. A rally and a memorial service for Russia Today photo journalist Andrey Stenin have taken place in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The commemorative events that took place near the scene of his death in the Snezhnoye area, brought together more than two hundred people.

Among the participants were local authorities and Donetsk Republic social movement representatives, People’s Council deputies, DPR and Russian journalists, Snezhnoye fighters and local residents. A memorial service was conducted after flowers were laid to the spot of the journalist’s death.

“The shooting was intensive at that time. Shells flew around exploding everything. Our windows were smashed; our neighbour’s house was blown up,” said local resident Lyudmila Sabitskaya recalling the 2014 events. “We collected the wounded and hid them from fire in cellars. We came out the next morning; there were many dead people in the field. We saw many cars with victims on the road. Andrey Stenin was killed, too.”

She added that at that time, Ukrainian forces had taken a fancy to shooting a passing cars.

Russia Today photo journalist Andrey Stenin died on August 6, 2014 in the Donbass war zone in the line of duty. According to the Russian Investigative Committee’s information, made public by Russia Today Director General Dmitry Kiselyov, the car carrying Stenin came under Ukrainian MLRS fire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a degree posthumously awarding the Order of Courage to Stenin. A school in the Gornyatskoye township now bears his name. The authorities also installed the bust of the journalist in the school.*jk