British chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and his Sky News team were trying to reach Kyiv when they found themselves driving through an area that seemed strangely quiet. They had received directions from a police officer, but as they approached an intersection, something about the scene felt wrong.
Suddenly, something slammed into their vehicle. One of the tires burst, and the team quickly realized they were under attack. More bullets began striking the car, hitting the windshield as everyone inside ducked and tried to stay out of the line of fire.
The situation became more dangerous by the second. The crew knew the vehicle could not protect them for long, so they had to get out. One by one, they scrambled from the car, sprinting toward a railing before jumping over it and heading down into an embankment.
Among them was camera operator Richie Mockler, who was still recording as the attack unfolded. He was shot twice during the ambush, but his body armor protected him from the bullets. Despite being hit, he continued filming as the crew desperately tried to reach safety.
The team eventually made it to a warehouse, where a group of Ukrainian mechanics took them in and kept them safe. They stayed there until they could be rescued, and despite the terrifying attack, everyone survived.
The incident showed just how quickly a quiet road can become a deadly situation in a war zone. For journalists working in these areas, protective equipment such as body armor and helmets can provide critical protection when gunfire suddenly erupts.
It is also important to avoid appearing like a soldier or police officer while reporting from a conflict zone. Keeping protective equipment as covert as possible can help reduce the chance of being mistaken for someone involved in the fighting.
If gunfire starts while you are inside a vehicle, staying inside may not be the safest option for long. Take cover immediately, but be prepared to move quickly because a car offers limited protection against sustained gunfire.
When possible, move toward the door closest to a ditch, embankment, or building that can provide better cover. Once outside the vehicle, stay as close to the ground as possible while moving away from the immediate danger.
For the Sky News crew, getting out of the vehicle and reaching cover gave them a chance to survive an attack that began without warning. Richie Mockler was hit twice, but his body armor protected him, and even during the chaos, his camera kept recording.
