Ivan Zuev

Their life

Ivan Zuev was a Russian war correspondent working for the state news agency RIA Novosti, who was killed while reporting from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region of southeastern Ukraine. His death occurred during a drone attack while he was on assignment, making him the fifth journalist killed in Ukraine in 2025. His killing was publicly condemned by UNESCO, which called for a full investigation and respect for international humanitarian law.

Ivan Zuev was an active conflict correspondent for RIA Novosti, covering military developments in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, an area under Russian occupation and frequent attack. On 16 October 2025, while carrying out his journalistic duties, he was reportedly killed in a drone strike. His death was later confirmed and documented by UNESCO’s Observatory of Killed Journalists, which updated the case on 24 October 2025. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay condemned the killing, emphasizing the civilian status of journalists under international humanitarian law and reiterating protections outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2222. Zuev’s killing underscores the extreme dangers faced by journalists reporting from active conflict zones.

How they died

He was Killed in a drone attack.

Ivan Zuev was reportedly killed by a drone strike while on journalistic assignment in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine. The incident occurred in an active conflict area, and UNESCO has called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Ivan Zuev, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources