BBC’s Clive Myrie reflects on the moment he shed a tear during live Ukraine report

Watch: Clive Myrie opens up on the moment he shed a tear during Ukraine report

BBC News reporter Clive Myrie has clarified what happened when viewers spotted a tear falling down his cheek while reporting on the war in Ukraine.

On 24 February, the day that Russia invaded Ukraine, the 57-year-old journalist presented BBC News at 10 live from Kyiv and provided updates about the reality of the attack.

At one point, a tear could be seen falling down the news reporter’s cheek, prompting viewers to discuss the moment on social media – causing the clip to go viral.

While speaking on the Behind the Headlines podcast with Headlines Network (via Metro), the Mastermind host reflected on the moment and stated that 'it had been an emotional day' but his tear had been due to another reason.

Myrie explained that when the invasion him of other conflicts the Russian military had been involved in in the past, leading him to foresee that “it was going to be a horrible, horrible war”.

He continued: “It had been an emotional day, and I was standing on the rooftop of the hotel where we were broadcasting and it was frankly windy, it was windy.”

Read more: Nicola Sturgeon calls Clive Myrie an 'unsung hero'

Myrie then clarified the this tear had been caused by the weather as he added: “The wind blew across my face and through my eyes and a single tear came out.

“So I’m not saying that I was crying for Ukraine, because the wind was blowing. What I will say is that it was an emotional day, and that’s it.”

The Celebrity Mastermind host spent two weeks covering the Ukraine crisis, at various points having to shelter underground and don a flak jacket mid-report.

In another interview, the broadcaster stated that it was important for the media to try and give the public a real sense of what was going on so they don't believe "something that’s been knocked up on a computer by some bloke in a shed somewhere".

Myrie first joined the BBC in 1987 and became a foreign correspondent nine years later.

Watch: BBC's Clive Myrie explains why he’s stayed in Ukraine