Russian journalist who worked in one of the largest Russian media groups supporting Kremlinwas killed today in an incident with executions in the field of military training in Crimeasaid the appointed Russia officials and state media.

Svetlana Babayeva headed the Rossiya Segodnya media group’s office in Simferopol, the second largest city on the Crimean peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014.

The Russian news agency RIA Novosti, an affiliate of MIA Rossiya Segodnya, reported that Babayeva was killed by a stray bullet during an exercise. He did not provide other details.

Zakharova: “I love you very much, Sveta”

Pro-Russian officials paid tribute to Babayeva in social media posts. Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian governor of Crimea, called her death an irreparable loss.

“Svetlana has done a lot to bring the truth to the public about what is happening in the Kherson region,” said Volodymyr Saldo, head of the Russian occupation authorities in the Kherson region in southern Ukraine.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, wrote on her Telegram page: “I love you very much, Sveta.”

Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the Rossiya Segodnya group, calling its CEO Dmitry Kiselyov “a central figure in state propaganda supporting the entry of Russian troops into Ukraine.”

In a statement released by RIA Novosti, Kiselyov said Babayeva was a “warm person who strongly supported Russia” and “wanted to support our heroes.”

Babayeva was previously head of the British and American bureau of RIA Novosti and editor of the Gazeta.Ru website, the agency said.

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters}