MEDIA WINNER: Erin Burnett CNNâs Erin Burnett wept on Wednesday as she interviewed a Ukrainian man whose wife and children were killed last week by a Russian mortar attack. Serhiy Perebyinis found out his wife Titiana and children Mykta and Alisa were killed in Irpin on March 9 after he saw their bodies online. Photographer Lynsey Addario watched on as a mortar struck four civilians who had attempted to cross a bridge into Kyiv. Addario's photo went viral, and Perebyinis told the New York Times he saw the image on Twitter and knew he had lost his family. He joined Burnett on OutFront to talk about that horror. âIâm so deeply sorry for your unbearable loss,â Burnett told Perebyinis. She asked about whether he's been able to bury his family, and he talked about that. She asked for him to discuss his final conversation with his wife, and he recounted it. His explanation of the conditions in the city, a desperate situation for those attempting to leave. She asked about his children and began to cry. "I saw a photo on Twitter and I recognized my children. I recognized their things and their clothes," he said, describing the horrible moment. "I called my friends to say the children are dead. Their bodies are lying on pavement." Perebyinis talked about his family, about the loss. He had cheerful children, happy. A loving wife, a businesswoman who loved to plant flowers. They'd renewed their vows. His family, that loving family now lost, Perebyinis vowed to remain in Ukraine âuntil the end." It was powerful. Heartbreaking. Personal. âSerhiy, thank you so, so much for speaking with me and for sharing this, such deeply personal loss,â Burnett concluded as she wiped away tears. âThank you.â Burnett didn't just interview, she listened. She felt the pain of loss and handled it all expertly. Very well done. |