Mr Renaud, a former freelancer with the New York Times, had been attempting to film refugees fleeing the city.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky paid tribute to Mr Renaud in a letter addressed to his family.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Brent Renaud who lost his life while documenting the ruthlessness & evil inflicted upon [Ukrainian] people by Russia”, Mr Zelenskyy wrote in a statement posted on Twitter.

“May Brent’s life & sacrifice inspire the world to stand up in fight for the forces of light against forces of darkness”, he continued.

Clifford Levy, a deputy managing editor of the New York Times, said he had not been on assignment for the paper at the time of his death but said he was “saddened” by the news.

“Brave journalists like Brent take tremendous risks to bear witness and to tell the world about the devastation and suffering caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” they added.

Jane Ferguson, a journalist for PBS Newshour who was nearby, said: “Outraged Ukrainian police officer: ‘Tell America, tell the world, what they did to a journalist.’”