AFP journalist Arman Soldin killed in Russian shelling near Bakhmut

This information was confirmed by the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko.

"The previous evening, French journalist Armand Soldin died as a result of shelling near Chasiv Yar. I extend my condolences to the family and friends of the journalist, and I thank everyone who continues to risk their lives to report the truth about our ongoing war," he wrote.

We are devastated to learn of the death of AFP video journalist Arman Soldin in eastern Ukraine today.

All of our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/T2y449o1Ry

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 9, 2023

According to the agency, the journalist's death was witnessed by his colleagues and reported to AFP on the evening of May 9.

"We are devastated to learn of the death of AFP video journalist Arman Soldin in eastern Ukraine today. All of our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones," AFP’s message reads. 

Soldin's French colleagues reported that the Russian missile attack occurred on the outskirts of the city of Chasiv Yar, not far from Bakhmut.

The Institute of Mass Information also reported on the foreign journalist's death.

IMI stated that Arman Soldin became the 57th media person killed due to Russian aggression and the 10th journalist killed while performing professional duties.

According to Lemonde, 32-year-old Arman Soldin and his AFP colleagues were under fire while staying with a group of Ukrainian soldiers. The shelling occurred around 4:30 p.m.

Armand Soldin, who was born in Sarajevo and held French citizenship, started working for AFP as an intern in the Rome bureau in 2015 before moving to the London bureau. He was part of the first AFP team sent to Ukraine after the Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022, and arrived the next day. Since September, Soldin lived in Ukraine, managed the team's coverage, and regularly traveled to the front lines in the east and south.