NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall, who faced catastrophic injuries while reporting on the Ukraine war in early 2022, made an emotional return to Ukraine over the weekend, marking his first visit since the attack.
Hall recounted the details of his "emotional weekend" and teased insights from his interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which later aired on ‘Special Report’.
Speaking on ‘Fox & Friends’ on Tuesday, November 21, Hall revealed the trip's dual purpose as he said, “It's been a really emotional weekend for me and I think this trip had two sole purposes. One of them was really just to show everyone that, no matter if you get knocked down, you pick yourself up and you keep going.”
He further explained, “I wanted to go back to Ukraine since the attack happened, and that's what this weekend was about.”
Benjamin Hall opens up about his ‘emotional weekend’ after he returns to Ukraine
Fox News’ Benjamin Hall sat down with the Ukrainian president for an interview on a wide range of topics. The trip also marked his return after the heart-wrenching attack.
Hall's return trip to Ukraine was orchestrated by Fox Corporation Executive Chairman and CEO Lachlan Murdoch.
While talking with ‘Fox & Friends’, Hall shared, “[Zelenskyy] laid it out in full. He didn't hold back at all. He talked about the US, the lack of funding from Congress, about the lack of potential support from Americans.”
He continued, “He talked about how Israel had really taken the eyes of the world away from Ukraine, and he thinks that this is a critical moment. He said that Russia may have pushed the world to the brink of World War III, and if Ukraine isn't supported enough, there's a lot of concern that that could go on."
Benjamin Hall says ‘journalism must never stop’ after his return to Ukraine
The interview with Zelenskyy came over a year after the tragic incident in Horenka, outside Kyiv, in March 2022 where Benjamin Hall along with Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra "Sasha" Kuvshynova were struck by a deadly attack.
While Zakrzewski and Kuvshynova died when their vehicle was struck by incoming fire, Hall survived the attack, despite being severely injured by it.
Hall expressed, “But aside from that, and aside from remembering Pierre and Sasha, who died, the news angle was fascinating as well."
The interview also showcased Zelenskyy expressing his condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Zakrzewski and Kuvshynova.
Zelenskyy said, “I wanted to say my condolences to all the parents, relatives of those very brave guys, men and women who lost their lives, because they really wanted to help Ukraine. [The] history of Ukraine will never forget such brave people.”
Hall has undergone approximately 30 surgeries as a result of the severe injuries he sustained during the Ukraine war, where he lost his right leg below the knee and his left foot. The attack also caused him to lose the use of his right hand and sight in his left eye.
He shared, “I was so badly injured and I just held it together. And as I went in this time, it felt like I was coming full circle again. I felt that I was finishing off that whole story and I was going back into where it happened."
Benjamin Hall documented his challenging journey in the book ‘Saved: A War Reporter’s Mission to Make it Home’, published in March.
The book, which became a New York Times bestseller, delves into Hall's experiences, from his time in Ukraine to the process of extraction and the subsequent arduous recovery.
Despite the severe injuries he sustained, Hall has displayed remarkable resilience and dedication to his role as a journalist, honoring the memory and legacy of his colleagues Sasha and Pierre.
He told ‘Fox & Friends’ host Brian Kilmeade, “It just reminds everyone that journalism must never stop. We must keep going back, no matter how difficult it might be.”
During his recent trip to Ukraine, Hall engaged with various Ukrainian officials and soldiers who played pivotal roles in his evacuation following the tragic incident in 2022.
In recognition of Hall's significant contributions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy bestowed upon him the Order of Merit, III Class.
This award acknowledges Hall's “outstanding personal contribution to strengthening interstate cooperation, support for Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity,” as reported by the Ukrainian President’s official website.
