Berliner Zeitung De AFP Journalist Killed in Rocket Attack – France Initiates War Crimes Investigation. Arman Soldin died near Bachmut. The French anti-terrorism prosecution announces it will initiate an investigation into war crimes.
At the time of the attack, around 4:30 p.m. local time, the AFP team was traveling with Ukrainian soldiers. The journalists came under Russian rocket fire. Soldin was fatally hit. He had thrown himself to the ground in an attempt to protect himself, a colleague reports. The rest of the AFP team was able to escape unharmed.
“The entire agency is devastated by the loss of Arman. His death is a terrible reminder of the risks and dangers journalists face daily while covering the conflict in Ukraine,” said President-General Director Fabrice Fries.
Anti-Terror Prosecution to Initiate War Crimes Investigation
The National Anti-Terror Prosecution in France announced the initiation of a war crimes investigation. The exact circumstances of the 32-year-old’s death are to be clarified, as reported by the French newspaper Le Figaro.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on the microblogging service Twitter after Soldin’s death became known: “Bravely, he was on the front lines from the first hours of the conflict, researching the facts, to inform us.
A short time later, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense also expressed its sentiments on the platform, offering its “sincere condolences” to Soldin’s family and colleagues. “He sacrificed his life to report the truth to the world.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was “devastated” at the news of the death. He offered condolences to Soldin’s family and relatives. “Our thoughts are with them and the entire AFP family.”
Deceased AFP Journalist: Kremlin Demands Investigation into Circumstances of Death
Moscow expressed its regret over Soldin’s death and called for an investigation into the circumstances of his death. “We need to understand the circumstances of the journalist’s death,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov stated on Wednesday in Moscow. The claims by Ukraine that Russia was responsible for the death should not be taken “at face value”. “In this matter, we can only express our sorrow,” Peskov continued.
Arman Soldin: “Stories of Refugees Touch Me
Soldin had been working as a journalist for AFP since 2015, initially as an intern in the Rome office, later he moved to London. He spoke fluent English, French, and Italian. Born in Sarajevo, Soldin also held French citizenship.
At just under a year old, in 1992 he was among the first people to be evacuated from besieged Sarajevo during the Bosnian War. “Stories of refugees touch me,” Soldin shared in a 2022 blog post for AFP, where he reported on his work in Ukraine.
From the first day of the Russian invasion, Soldin reported from Ukraine – often directly from the front lines. He voluntarily joined the first AFP reporter team that was sent to the country one day after the start of the war. Since September, he had been living permanently in Ukraine, coordinating the work of video journalists and regularly traveling to the front in the east and south of Ukraine himself.
On the anniversary of the Russian invasion, Soldin wrote that he was “proud and moved” by the work that he and his colleagues put “much effort and tears” into. He said at the time, “It’s not over yet.”
With Soldin’s death, the number of journalists, as well as helpers and drivers of media teams, killed in Ukraine according to journalist organizations, rose to at least eleven, it was said.
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FAQs
Q1: Who was Arman Soldin?
A1: Arman Soldin was an AFP journalist who had been reporting from Ukraine since the start of the conflict. He joined AFP in 2015 and had been working as a journalist covering various assignments.
Q2: What were the circumstances of Soldin’s death?
A2: Arman Soldin died in a rocket attack near Bachmut while traveling with Ukrainian soldiers. The journalists came under Russian rocket fire, and Soldin was fatally hit. He had attempted to protect himself by throwing himself to the ground.
Q3: Who is conducting an investigation into his death?
A3: The French anti-terrorism prosecution announced that it will initiate a war crimes investigation into the circumstances of Arman Soldin’s death.
Q4: What has French President Emmanuel Macron said about Soldin’s death?
A4: French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences and praised Soldin’s bravery and dedication to reporting the truth. He stated on Twitter that Soldin was researching the facts and informing the public from the front lines.
Q5: What was the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense’s response to Soldin’s death?
A5: The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense expressed sincere condolences to Soldin’s family and colleagues. They acknowledged his sacrifice in reporting the truth to the world and recognized his commitment.
Q6: How did the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken react to the news?
A6: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was devastated by the news of Arman Soldin’s death. He offered his condolences to Soldin’s family and the AFP family, stating that their thoughts are with them.
Q7: What is the Kremlin’s stance on Soldin’s death?
A7: The Kremlin expressed regret over Soldin’s death and called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding it. They emphasized the need to understand the details and cautioned against accepting Ukraine’s claims without thorough examination.
Q8: What was Soldin’s background and career with AFP?
A8: Arman Soldin had been working as a journalist for AFP since 2015. He started as an intern in the Rome office and later moved to London. Soldin, who held French citizenship, spoke fluent English, French, and Italian.
Q9: How did Soldin perceive his work in Ukraine?
A9: Soldin saw his work in Ukraine as a commitment to reporting the truth and sharing the stories of refugees. He was proud of the effort he and his colleagues put into their work, especially in the face of the ongoing conflict.
Q10: How many journalists and media team members have been killed in Ukraine since the start of the conflict?
A10: With Arman Soldin’s death, the number of journalists, helpers, and drivers of media teams killed in Ukraine, according to journalist organizations, rose to at least eleven.
