Ukraine: Terrifying video of 'death squad' ambush on Sky News journalists

WARNING – CONFRONTING CONTENT: Terrifying footage has emerged of the moment a Sky News team – including a journalist, camera operator and producers – were ambushed by a "death squad" near Kyiv while covering the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay was travelling with producers Martin Vowles, Andrii Lytvynenko and Dominique Van Heerden, and camera operator Richie Mockler to Bucha, where contacts had agreed to be interviewed about a Russian convoy that had been "destroyed" by the Ukrainian army the day before.

On their journey from Kyiv on Monday (local time), their world "was turned upside", according to Ramsay's first-person piece for Sky News.

"And then out of nowhere a small explosion and I saw something hit the car and a tyre burst. We rolled to a stop," he said.

"The first round cracked the windscreen. Camera operator Richie Mockler huddled into the front passenger footwell. Then we were under full attack.

"Bullets cascaded through the whole of the car, tracers, bullet flashes, windscreen glass, plastic seats, the steering wheel, and dashboard had disintegrated."

Despite being under fire, Mockler was able to capture the harrowing moment.

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In the video, Ramsay describes their attackers as "death squads who are attacking civilians in their cars as they flee".

As they realised they're under attack with intense gunfire being heard, one of the crew yells at the shooters to "stop", but the rain of bullets continue.

Thinking it was the Ukrainian army checkpoint opening fire, they scream out, identifying themselves as journalists. But the attack continues.

Ramsay added it was a "professional ambush" and "the bullets just don't miss".

As they continue to take fire, one of the crew is seen out of frame getting on their hands and knees, crawling to safety.

Luckily the five of them were able to get away by escaping down a 12-metre embankment before seeking shelter in factory unit where they organised logistics for their rescue, according to Ramsay.

The journalist was hit in the lower back and Mockler's body armour was sustained two rounds.

The team are safe and now back in the UK, Sky News reported.

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