For many TV viewers, the war in Ukraine became real when Matthew Chance donned his flak jacket.

CNN’s senior international correspondent was reporting live from a Kyiv rooftop the night of Feb. 23, explaining Russia’s declaration of a “special military operation” in Ukraine’s Donbas region, when he heard a loud bang in the distance and calmly explained to anchor Don Lemon that it was time for him to put on a combat vest and helmet — which he did, on camera, as Lemon advised him on how to make sure his microphone could still pick up his words.