In a devastating incident near the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, French journalist Arman Soldin, employed by the AFP news agency, lost his life during a rocket attack in Chasiv Yar. This marks the 16th journalist casualty since the commencement of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Soldin, part of an AFP team accompanying Ukrainian soldiers, was targeted by grad rockets around 4:30 pm (13:30 GMT) on Tuesday, according to AFP. Despite seeking shelter, the 32-year-old journalist suffered a fatal blow when a rocket struck near his location.
Fabrice Fries, chairman of AFP, expressed profound sorrow at the loss of Arman: "The entire agency is devastated by the tragic passing of Arman. His death serves as a stark reminder of the perilous risks journalists face daily while covering the conflict in Ukraine."
Fortunately, the remainder of the AFP team emerged unharmed from the attack.
Chasiv Yar, located in close proximity to Bakhmut, has been a focal point of Russian forces' nine-month campaign, as they view it as a crucial gateway to other regions in eastern Ukraine.
Soldin, a French citizen originally from Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, began his journey with AFP as an intern in Rome back in 2015 before being hired in London. He arrived in Ukraine to report on the war just a day after Russia initiated its full-scale invasion.
Having played a prominent role in AFP's video reporting from Ukraine, Soldin had been regularly venturing to the front lines in recent months.