American Killed In Bread Line By Russian Soldiers In Ukraine
By Donald Standeford, Correspondent - Follow -
Date Published: March 17, 2022 10:20PM UTC
Last Modified: March 17, 2022 10:20PM UTC
CHERNIHIV, UKRAINE - An American named Jim Hill was among around nine other civilians who were reportedly standing in the bread line in Chernihiv, Ukraine when they were gunned down by Russian soldiers according to his sister.
Jim Hill's death was reported by his sister, who said "My brother Jimmy Hill was killed yesterday in Chernihiv, Ukraine. He was waiting in a bread line with several other people when they were gunned down. His body was found in the street by the local police".
Both Chernihiv police and the U.S. State Department has confirmed the death of an American but had not yet identified him at the time of the report. According to AP news, Hill is 'at least the second U.S. citizen' that has been killed in the conflict thus far, after journalist and filmaker Bret Renaud was killed last week.
AP stated that Hill had reported "indiscriminate bombing' in a city under siege and joked about pretending to be 'feeble minded' if he was captured by Russian soldiers before he was ultimately shot and killed by Russian forces.
"Nobody in Chernihiv is safe. Indiscriminate bombing. ... Ukrainian forces hold city but are surrounded. It’s a siege here. Nobody in. Nobody out", he had written in early March.
A local official told CNN that victims died when a shell exploded on a Chernihiv street that was under attack by Russian forces. There has also been drone footage released of another incident that allegedly shows a man getting out of his vehicle and surrendering to Russian forces with his hands over his head being shot and executed by Russian forces. We have seen this footage ourselves.
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv is demanding accountability for the 'atrocity crimes' and said, "Today, Russian forces shot and killed 10 people standing in line for bread in Chernihiv. Such horrific attacks must stop. We are considering all available options to ensure accountability for any atrocity crimes in Ukraine".
Footage taken after the incident shows the bodies of the civilians killed in the attack laying in the street. One person was reported to have been helped into a vehicle, though their condition is yet unknown at this time.
The U.N. human rights office (OHCHR) stated four days ago, on Monday that it had confirmed that at least 636 civilians have been killed so far in Ukraine as of March 13th, including 46 children. The OHCHR has around 50 staff members monitoring human rights violations within Ukraine.
