France Investigates War Crime After Journalist Antoni Lallican Killed in Russian Drone Strike

French prosecutors have launched an investigation into potential war crimes following the death of photojournalist Antoni Lallican in Donetsk region, according to France 24 on October 6.

The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) confirmed that the case will be handled by the Central Office for the Fight against Crimes against Humanity and Hate Crimes.

The 38-year-old French photojournalist was killed near Druzhkivka on October 3 in a targeted strike by a Russian drone. He had been on assignment in the Donetsk region for the Hans Lucas agency.

Ukrainian photojournalist and member of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, Hryhorii Ivanchenko, was also injured in the attack. Both journalists were wearing protective gear and bulletproof vests clearly marked “Press.”

Lallican worked with leading French and international publications, including Le Monde, Le Figaro, Libération, Mediapart, Der Spiegel, Zeit, Die Welt, Le Temps, Der Standard, and La Presse, among many others.