A French photojournalist, Antoni Lallican, 37, was killed on Friday in eastern Ukraine when drones struck near the front line in Donetsk, Ukrainian authorities and media groups confirmed.
His death brings the number of journalists killed in the conflict to at least 17 since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Lallican, who was embedded with the Ukrainian army at the time of the attack, became the first journalist to be killed by a drone in the war, according to the European and International Federations of Journalists. Ukrainian journalist Georgiy Ivanchenko was also wounded in the strike but remains in stable condition, officials said.
Both reporters were near Druzhkivka, around 20 kilometres from the front line, and were wearing protective gear clearly marked with “PRESS,” Ukraine’s Fourth Armoured Brigade confirmed.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “deep sadness” over Lallican’s death, directly blaming Russia for the attack. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andriy Sybiga, accused Moscow of “deliberately targeting journalists,” calling it a “heinous crime and violation of international humanitarian law.”
The EFJ and IFJ condemned the strike as a “war crime” and urged an investigation.
Lallican, an award-winning photojournalist based in Paris, had contributed to top publications including Le Monde and Germany’s Der Spiegel. He previously worked with Mediapart, which described him as a “formidable photographer and excellent colleague.”
A pharmacist by training, Lallican switched careers at 30 after witnessing clashes in Kashmir, an experience he said “awakened a passion for news photography.” His work took him across global conflict zones including Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. In 2024, he won the Victor Hugo Prize for committed photography.
What you should know
Antoni Lallican’s death marks the first time a journalist has been killed by a drone in the Ukraine war.
Widely respected for his courageous reporting across global conflict zones, Lallican’s passing underscores the increasing risks faced by journalists covering the war. Since 2022, at least 17 journalists have lost their lives in Ukraine.
