French photojournalist Antoni Lallican killed by a drone in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region

The National Union of Journalists (SNJ) issued a statement on Friday announcing the death of French photojournalist Antoni Lallican, aged 37, killed by a drone strike in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) "condemn this war crime and call on the authorities to open an investigation to identify those responsible".

French President Emmanuel Macron reacted swiftly to this announcement. In a post on X, the French leader expressed his condolences to the journalist and his family, and commended him for his bravery.

"Our compatriot, photojournalist Antoni Lallican, was accompanying the Ukrainian army on the resistance front. I was deeply saddened to learn of his death, the victim of a Russian drone attack."

"I send my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends, and to all his colleagues who, at the risk of their lives, inform us and bear witness to the reality of war", he added.

According to the SNJ press release, a Ukrainian journalist, Heorgiy Ivanchenko, was injured in the same attack. Both journalists were wearing "protective gear and bullet-proof waistcoats", and were clearly marked "Press".

The EFJ noted that this was the first time a journalist was killed by a drone in Ukraine. They added that the exact series of events leading up to the tragic attack are still under investigation.

The Paris-based journalist worked for numerous media outlets across France and Europe prior to his trip to Ukraine, to cover the ongoing brutalities committed by Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion, well into its fourth year.

His work has been published in news outlets, including Le Monde, Le Figaro, Libération, Mediapart, Der Spiegel, Zeit, Die Welt, Le Temps, Der Standard, La Presse and others.

Lallican has covered the war in Ukraine previously, having visited the country back in March 2022, just days after Russia launched its offensive.

He spent months moving across the country, extensively covering the various frontlines and documenting the realities on the ground and the consequences of war, though his work saw him primarily focus on the Donbas region, the most active frontline.

In January, Antoni Lallican won the 2024 Victor Hugo Prize for "Committed Photography" for his impressive correspondence, titled "Suddenly the Sky Darkened", dedicated to the Ukraine war.