France Opens War Crimes Probe After French Photojournalist Killed in Ukraine Drone Strike
France Opens War Crimes Probe After French Photojournalist Killed in Ukraine Drone Strike
French authorities have launched a formal war crimes investigation following the death of French photojournalist Antoni Lallican, who was killed in a drone strike while covering the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Lallican, 37, was reportedly embedded with Ukraine’s Fourth Armoured Brigade near the front line in the Donbas region when the incident occurred on Friday. Ukrainian officials said the journalist was killed instantly when a Russian drone targeted the area.
Another journalist, Georgiy Ivanchenko, a Ukrainian national, sustained injuries in the same attack and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Reacting to the development, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the killing, describing it as a “cowardly act” and reiterating France’s “unwavering support” for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression. Macron also paid tribute to Lallican, praising his courage and dedication to “bearing witness to the truth from the front lines.”
In a statement on Sunday, the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) said it had opened an investigation for “war crimes,” adding that the case had been entrusted to the Central Office for the Fight against Crimes against Humanity and Hate Crimes.
“The investigation will seek to determine the exact circumstances of the strike that led to the death of Mr. Lallican and to establish responsibility for this act,” PNAT said.
Ukraine’s military accused Russia of deliberately targeting journalists in violation of international humanitarian law an allegation Moscow has repeatedly denied.
Lallican’s death adds to the growing number of journalists who have lost their lives since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), at least a dozen journalists, both Ukrainian and foreign, have been killed in the line of duty since the war began.
Lallican, an experienced freelance photojournalist, had previously covered conflicts in the Middle East and Africa. Colleagues described him as “fearless and deeply committed to documenting human suffering in war zones.”
The French government said it is working with Ukrainian authorities to repatriate his remains and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
