Russia kills French journalist, wounds Ukrainian in Donetsk Region

A Russian drone killed French photojournalist Antoni Lallican and wounded Ukrainian journalist Hryhorii Ivanchenko on the morning of Oct. 3 in Donetsk Region, the Fourth Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade reported.

The journalists were wearing protective gear marked “Press” and were accompanied by a press officer. The strike was deliberate, according to military.

“The enemy has once again cynically violated international humanitarian law. This incident further confirms the deceit and brutality of the invading army,” the brigade said.

Lallican, 38, worked for leading French and international media outlets and dedicated his life to documenting conflicts and human rights issues.

He became the third French journalist killed by Russia during the full-scale war in Ukraine, the head of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, Serhii Tomilenko, reported.

“These are not collateral casualties of war — this is a targeted hunt for those trying to document the aggressor’s crimes,” Tomilenko said.

BFMTV reporter Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff was killed in Sieverskodonetsk in May 2022, and AFP video coordinator Arman Soldin was killed near Bakhmut in May 2023.

“Russia continues to destroy civilian lives and is doing everything to prevent the world from knowing the truth,” the brigade said.