French journalist killed during Russian bombardment in Ukraine

Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff, 32, killed throughout Russian bombardment that a hit car evacuating civilians, officers say.

A person walks previous a residential constructing broken throughout a shelling in Severodonetsk, Luhansk on April 16 [EPA-EFE]

A French journalist has been killed throughout a Russian bombardment that struck a car evacuating civilians from jap Ukraine, French and Ukrainian officers mentioned.

“Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff was in Ukraine to point out the truth of struggle,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter on Monday.

“Onboard a humanitarian bus with civilians pressured to flee to flee Russian bombings, he was mortally wounded.”

Leclerc-Imhoff was working for the BFM tv information channel, which mentioned he was 32 years previous and on his second Ukraine reporting journey because the struggle started on February 24.

He was close to Severodonetsk, a metropolis in Ukraine’s east that has been pounded by advancing Russian troops in latest weeks, the French and Ukrainian overseas ministries mentioned in separate statements.

Overseas Minister Catherine Colonna, who visited Kyiv on Monday, wrote on Twitter that Leclerc-Imhoff had been killed “by a Russian bombardment of a humanitarian mission whereas he was finishing up his responsibility to tell.

“I've spoken with the federal government of Luhansk and requested President [Volodymyr] Zelensky for an inquiry, and so they assured me of their assist and assist,” she wrote.

BFM mentioned its journalist had been hit by shrapnel from the bombing, and his colleague Maxime Brandstaetter was wounded. Their native fixer Oksana Leuta was not damage.

“This tragic occasion reminds us of the risks confronted by all journalists who've been risking their lives to explain this battle for greater than three months now,” BFM mentioned in an announcement.

Professional-Russian forces fireplace a rocket launcher close to Panteleimonivka in jap Ukraine [Alexei Alexandrov/AP Photo]

Macron wrote, “I share the grief of his household, family members and colleagues,” including that “to those that make sure the troublesome mission of reporting in fight zones, I wish to reiterate France’s unconditional assist.”

Reporters With out Borders, a world media advocacy group, mentioned at the least eight journalists have been killed whereas reporting on the Ukraine battle.

Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai mentioned on Telegram that “our armoured evacuation car was going to choose ten folks up from the world and got here underneath enemy fireplace.”