China offers condolences over death of Russian reporters in Ukraine

BEIJING, June 18 (Itar-Tass) - China has offered its condolences over the death of Russian reporters near Ukraine's conflict-gripped city of Lugansk, the spokeswoman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Hua Chunying, said on Wednesday. The diplomat said that China was always against violence towards journalists and she urged the warring sides to undertake efficient steps for reporters’ protection excluding even a hint of any accidents in near future. She said that China was worried about the recent events in Ukraine and called on the warring sides to keep calm, show restraint and create all the conditions for political settlement. On June 17, a Russian TV crew came under mortar fire near the Ukrainian city of Lugansk. Igor Kornelyuk, a correspondent with the VGTRK state-run television corporation, and sound engineer Anton Voloshin were killed. Cameraman Viktor Denisov escaped their fate as he was at some distance from them at the moment of shelling. The crew were wearing special signs marked ‘PRESS’. Learn more on itar-tass.com