French Journalist Killed In Ukraine

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – A 32-year-old French journalist was killed in eastern Ukraine on Monday after the armored vehicle in which he was traveling was hit by shrapnel from a Russian shell, authorities said.

President Emmanuel Macron of France named the journalist killed in the Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk as Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff.

Macron said Leclerc-Imhoff was in Ukraine to “show the reality of the war” through the French news channel BFMTV. Macron expressed his condolences on the social network site Twitter. “I share the pain of the family, loved ones, and colleagues,” he added.

News channel BFMTV explained it was “immensely saddened” to announce the death of its reporter, who had worked for the broadcaster for six years. He was on his second tour of the conflict, BFMTV said, adding that the journalist was killed on the road to Lysychansk.

“Our reporter was covering the ongoing war. He was the victim of shrapnel while following a humanitarian operation in an armored vehicle on Monday,” the 24-hour news station said. “He was accompanied by his colleague, Maxime Brandstaetter, who was slightly injured during this strike, and their fixer, Oksana Leuta, who was unharmed.”

Leclerc-Imhoff reported from the easternmost Ukrainian-held city, which has come under relentless attacks from Russia’s military.

At least seven journalists have been killed, and at least nine injured in Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24, said advocacy group Reporters Without Borders.

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