What Happened in Kramatorsk?
Working with a Reuters reporting team, 38-year-old Wrexham, Wales media security advisor Ryan Evans has been sadly slain in Ukraine. On Saturday, a missile hit the Hotel Sapphire in Kramatorsk, where Evans and the crew were lodging. Though near the front line, the attack occurred in territory under Ukrainian control.
According to Ukrainian officials, the missile was a Russian Iskander-M short-range missile. Russia has not commented on the issue so far. Following an exhausting 19-hour search, Evans’ corpse was found among the wreckage.
What Was Ryan Evans’ Background?
Evans left Ysgol Morgan Llwyd school and joined the Royal Welsh Army. Later, he became a close protection specialist, safeguarding relief workers and reporters in hostile surroundings. Former colleague Evans was “the most humble guy I’ve ever come across,” stressed, “He’d listen to anyone and always put everyone else before himself.”
“It was sad and heart-sinking when it’s close to home, despite risks being ‘what we expect in our game,'” the colleague—who had worked with Evans abroad—added. “Ryan’s a great guy,” he said, stressing Evans’s solid Welsh background and the influence he brings. His Welsh background is robust. If we could only take one thing away, it would be his grace; it is what we most cherish.
How Did Friends and Family React?
Anne, Evans’ wife, posted on Facebook her profound loss. She said, “I can’t even begin to describe how much that man meant to me, how much I loved him with every part of me. My soul love and dearest friend, he was my everything. Saying he was a “hero in tattered armor,” she considered his experiences and selflessness: “He was in gleaming armor once, but he had gone through more wars than I can even count. He was a somewhat kind giant. He was there should anyone ever have needs. Always putting others first, he would put himself second.
What Did Colleagues Say About Evans?
Expert in bomb disposal and Evans’ colleague Chris Hunter called him a “natural warrior.” Hunter said of Evans’ tenacity and determination, “He was exceptional, a really lovely guy—tough, strong, and fierce, but kind and funny.” He went on, “His bravery and determination were unparalleled. He was dedicated to making the planet a safer place and really loved those around him. Though he was rather strong, he treated everyone respectfully and gently. His death creates an emptiness not easily replaced.”
What Was Evans’ Educational and Professional Background?
Following his time at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Evans joined the Royal Welsh Army and served in Iraq, rising to the rank of corporal. Later, he focused on close protection—ensuring reporters and relief workers in conflict areas were safe. Headteacher Catrin Pritchard of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd said, “Although Ryan had left Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, several staff members still remember him extremely fondly as a very likable person, with a big heart.”
How Has the International Community Responded?
Offering “sincere condolences to his family and loved ones,” UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed great sadness over Evans’s death. Employing Evans, the news agency Reuters declared in a statement, “We are horrified to learn that Ryan Evans, a safety consultant for Reuters who was accompanying our reporting team in Ukraine, has been murdered. Two of our reporters are in hospitals; one is being treated for major injuries. Three more coworkers have been reported safe and accounted for.” The spokesman said, “We offer our most sincere sympathies and prayers to Ryan’s family and loved ones. Ryan has assisted so many of our reporters in covering events worldwide; we shall sorely miss him.”
