Tributes paid to former British soldier killed in suspected Russian airstrike

Tributes are being paid to a former British soldier who was killed in a suspected Russian missile strike on a hotel in eastern Ukraine.

Ryan Evans, 38, was a security expert in a Reuters team covering the war.

Two journalists were also injured in a strike in Kramatorsk, the news agency has confirmed.

Reuters said in a statement that Mr Evans was working as a safety adviser for the agency and was killed after a missile struck the Hotel Sapphire where he was staying as part of a six-person team on Saturday.

"We send our deepest condolences and thoughts to Ryan's family and loved ones. Ryan has helped so many of our journalists cover events around the world; we will miss him terribly," Reuters said.

Reuters said it is seeking more information about the attack and is working with the authorities in Kramatorsk.

Mr Evans had worked with Reuters since 2022 and advised its journalists on safety around the world including in Ukraine, Israel and at the Paris Olympics.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it a deliberate and calculated attack.

He said the hotel had been destroyed by a "Russian Iskander missile", a ballistic missile that can strike at distances up to 500 km (310 miles).

"All day today, the rubble in Kramatorsk was being cleared after a Russian missile strike," he said in an address.

"An ordinary city hotel was destroyed. My condolences to the family and friends.

"This is the daily Russian terror that continues because Russia still has the means to continue."

President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, Sergiy Tomilenko "strongly condemned" the killing of Mr Evans.

He said on X: "He's the 17th media worker killed on duty since full-scale invasion per NSJU. At least 94 media professionals killed by Russia in total".