Russian troops shot and wounded a British journalist covering the war in Ukraine in Kyiv.

Sky News correspondent Stuart Ramsay and his four colleagues had been driving back to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv when they were ambushed by Russian forces.

Mr Ramsay was accompanied by camera operator Richie Mockler and producers Dominique Van Heerden, Martin Vowles and Andrii Lytvynenko.

“On Monday, near Kyiv, chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and his team were attacked. Camera operator Richie Mockler took two rounds to his body armour, Stuart was wounded,” Sky News reported on Saturday. 

“Their experience illustrates the scale of the mayhem and violence as Russia’s invasion enters a new and deadlier phase,” the TV station added.

The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the Sky News crew’s bravery and said they were risking their lives so “the truth is told”.

“Free press will not be intimidated or cowed by barbaric and indiscriminate acts of violence,” Mr Johnson said in a tweet.

The attack on the Sky News journalists happened on Monday, on their way back to Kyiv after calling off a trip to another town on grounds of safety.

Mr Ramsay said there was a small explosion and the rounds of bullets began smashing into the car after it came to a stop.

“We knew we had to get out to survive, but the incoming fire was intense,” Mr Ramsay said. “I do recall wondering if my death was going to be painful. And then I was hit in the lower back. ‘I’ve been hit,’ I shouted.”

On Friday, the BBC temporarily suspended its journalists’ work in Russia, in response to new legislation threatening to imprison anyone Russia believes spread “fake” news on the armed forces and the ongoing invasion in Ukraine.

Russia’s telecommunications regulator, Roskomnadzor, had accused the TV Rain of “inciting extremism, abusing Russian citizens, causing mass disruption of public calm and safety, and encouraging protests”.