French journalist Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff has been “fatally shot” in Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron has said.
The reporter, from 24-hour news channel BFM TV, was in the conflict-torn country to show the “reality of the war”, the French president added.
Mr Leclerc-Imhoff, 32, was covering an evacuation operation near the eastern city of Severodonetsk, French foreign minister Catherine Colonna said.
“On board a humanitarian bus, alongside civilians forced to flee to escape Russian bombs, he was fatally shot,” Mr Macron tweeted.
“To those who carry out the difficult mission of informing in theatres of operations, I would like to reiterate France’s unconditional support.”
Mr Macron said he shared the “pain of the family, relatives and colleagues” of Mr Leclerc-Imhoff, to whom he sent his condolences.
Ms Colonna said the journalist’s death was “deeply shocking” and that France demanded a “transparent investigation be undertaken as soon as possible”.
Serhiy Haidai, the regional governor of Luhansk, said the reporter suffered a “fatal wound to the neck”.
Writing on the Telegram messaging service, Mr Haidai added that shrapnel pierced an armoured vehicle and the evacuation effort had to be halted.
A policeman was saved by his helmet.
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Mr Haidai wrote: “Today our armoured evacuation vehicle was going to pick up 10 people from the area and came under enemy fire.
“Shrapnel from shells pierced the armour of the car. A fatal wound to the neck was received by an accredited French journalist who was making material about the evacuation.
“A patrol policeman was rescued by a helmet.
“We are officially stopping the evacuation.”
Image: A destroyed residential building in the town of Popasna in Luhansk
An intense battle is going on for Severodonetsk – a key city – with Russian forces entering the outskirts and pushing towards nearby Lysychansk, Mr Haidai has said.
Russian forces are reinforcing their positions in northeastern and southeastern outskirts of the city, while bringing in additional equipment and ammunition.
Two civilians were killed and another five wounded in the latest Russian shelling, Mr Haidai added on Monday.
Moscow’s forces are using the “same tactics over and over again”, he commented.
He continued: “They shell for several hours – for three, four, five hours – in a row and then attack.
“Those who attack die. Then shelling and attack follow again, and so on, until they break through somewhere.”
Image: A satellite image shows destroyed buildings and vehicles in convoy in Popasna in Luhansk
Severodonetsk serves as Luhansk’s administrative centre. Luhansk and Donetsk comprise the eastern Donbas area, which Vladimir Putin is trying to conquer.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his country is doing all it can to halt the Russian advance into the city, and described capturing it as a “fundamental task for the occupiers”.
“Some 90% of buildings are damaged,” he added. “More than two-thirds of the city’s housing stock has been completely destroyed.”
