UPDATE: The Russian media conglomerate Rossiya Segodnya has confirmed that photographer Andrei Stenin is dead, saying in a statement that medical experts had concluded a body found in a burned vehicle outside Donestk was that of Stenin.

The fate of a Russian photographer who disappeared nearly a month ago in eastern Ukraine remains a mystery despite scattered claims that DNA testing confirmed Andrei Stenin was dead.

A fellow Russian photojournalist claimed on September 2 that Stenin’s remains have been identified, after he disappeared while covering fighting between pro-Kyiv and pro-Russian forces.

Another report, on the Russian FlashNord website, quoted the separatist «Donetsk People’s Republic» as saying genetic tests had confirmed that remains found more than a week ago were Stenin’s.

But Stenin’s employers at news agency Rossiya Segodnya (also known as RIA Novosti) said they had no confirmation of Stenin’s death. «We are awaiting the final results of genetic testing in the near future,» Rossiya Segodnya Director-General Dmitry Kiselyov was quoted as saying.

The case has particularly alarmed Russians and international observers due to suggestions — including by a Ukrainian official — that Stenin, who was on assignment at the time, had been taken into custody by Ukrainian security forces.

Russian colleague and self-described «good friend» Vasily Maksimov (@vasilymaximov) announced Stenin’s purported death via Twitter.

«Andrei Stenin’s remains identified, it seems,» Maksimov said. «RIA will soon let you know. Unfortunately, I no longer doubted this outcome. RIP.»

http://www.rferl.org/content/stenin-ukraine-russia-journalist/26563187.html