Russian Journalists on Attack in Syria: Terrorists Intentionally Shot at Us

Islamic State and al-Nusra Front militants are intentionally targeting Russian journalists covering the events in Syria, two Russian reporters said upon their arrival from Syria on Thursday.

TASS correspondent Alexander Yelistratov, RT reporters Sargon Hadaya and Roman Kosarev, and cameraman Alexander Zhukov came under fire on Monday on their way to Dagmashliya, a Syrian town some 20 kilometers from the Turkish border.

One TOW guided antitank missile went off right next to the car the Russian reporters were traveling in, wounding Khadaya, Yelistratov and Zhukov, and leaving Kosarev shell-shocked.

“We were wearing blue flak jackets and blue ‘PRESS’ helmets, as specified by the Geneva Conventions… They could clearly see who and what we were, but they still fired at us,” Roman Kosarev told RIA Novosti.

He said that the Syrian officers had asked the Russian reporters to take off their helmets as the militants were purposely targeting journalists.

There were 17 media representatives in the cars that were fired on by the militants, Roman Kosarev added.

Alexander Yelistratov said that there were Russian soldiers in the first two cars, but the missile still hit the one the reporters were traveling in.

Ordinary Syrians are very friendly towards Russian media representatives, he added.

“We have been to many rallies and other public gatherings and have always been treated very well with people embracing us and saying: ‘Thank you, Russia,’” Roman Kosarev said.