French photojournalist Antoni Larikan was killed by a Ukrainian drone on Friday, according to his employer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Larican, 38, had been appointed Hanslucas’ photography agency when he was killed Friday morning.
The attack also injured Ukrainian journalist Heorgiy Ivanchenko, according to the International and European Union of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ).
In a statement to CNN, the Hans Lucas agency said that Lallican is an award-winning photographer who has been working for the company since 2018.
“His work focused on social and social issues with a particular focus on conflict zones and human rights,” the statement said. “He, who was particularly committed to the Ukrainian conflict, has traveled there regularly since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.”
Macron said on social media that Lalikan was “along with the Ukrainian troops in front of resistance,” and was “a victim of a Russian drone attack.”
“I learned from the deep sadness of his death, a victim of a Russian drone attack,” Macron wrote when he spread “the opinion of heartfelt sadness of dol” to Larican’s family.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andri Sibiha also expressed his sadness in the post.
Larikan was killed by a Russian first-person opinion (FPV) drone, according to a social media post by Sergie Tomirenko of the National Union of Ukrainian Journalists (Nuju).
“The main threat to journalists and all civilians right now is that Russian drones hunt people,” writes Tomirenko.
CNN contacted the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment.
Civilians in Ukrainian cities near the frontline previously told CNN that Russian FPV drones are a constant threat and are virtually not targeted at attacks on pedestrians, cars, buses and even ambulances.
Russia has repeatedly argued that it does not target civilians.
According to the Commission on Protecting Journalists, without counting the Larikan, at least 16 journalists have died reporting about the war in Ukraine since the Russian invasion. The majority were killed in the first year of the war.
