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October 06, 2025 – France/Ukraine/Russia –
French prosecutors have initiated a war crimes investigation following the death of French photojournalist Antoni Lallican, who was killed by a drone strike while reporting in eastern Ukraine.
Lallican, age 37, was embedded with Ukraine’s 4th Armored Brigade in the Donbas region, near the frontline, when a drone strike shattered the vehicle he was in. He and his team were plainly marked as press, wearing bulletproof vests and carrying press insignia at the time of the attack. A Ukrainian photographer traveling alongside him, Georgiy Ivanchenko, was seriously wounded in the same strike.
The French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has referred the case to war crimes jurisdiction, citing the intentional nature of the lethal force used against a civilian journalist. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has welcomed the steps taken by French and Ukrainian authorities, emphasizing that swift, independent legal action is essential to combat impunity in conflict zones.
Lallican’s death adds to the grim tally of journalists killed in the Ukraine war. He was believed to be the 17th media professional to die in the conflict and the fourth French national. His work was globally recognized; he had documented stories from multiple regions under conflict, and in 2024 was awarded the Victor Hugo Prize for committed photography.
The probe raises sharpened questions about the rules of engagement in war zones, the protection obligation owed to journalists under international law, and state responsibility for civilian targeting. The decision by French prosecutors to treat this as a potential war crime underscores the gravity of Lallican’s killing—and the urgency of holding accountable those responsible for attacks on members of the press operating in conflict areas.
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