Arman Soldin, a 32-year-old video coordinator for the French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP), died tragically in eastern Ukraine. Soldin was killed in a Grad rocket attack in Chasiv Yar, close to Bakhmut, a region heavily bombed by Russian forces and a site of severe combat throughout the war.Arman Soldin (Image: Twitter)Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, expressed his sympathies and praised Soldin for his bravery and commitment to reporting from the front lines. The loss devastated the whole AFP staff, with AFP Chairman Fabrice Fries praising Soldins outstanding work for embodying the agencys pride in Ukrainian journalism. Phil Chetwynd, the director of global news for AFP, also hailed Soldins work.Arman Soldin on duty (Image: Twitter)According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, a press freedom non-governmental organisation, Soldins death makes him the 15th journalist to die while covering the conflict in Ukraine. A skilled video reporter, Soldin frequently visited the front lines while working with AFP to cover the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He was present during the rocket attack together with four other AFP journalists and the Ukrainian military, all of whom fortunately managed to flee without harm.Arman Soldin on duty (Image: Twitter)In a recent video uploaded by an animal rescue organisation, Soldin is seen rescuing a hedgehog from a trench in eastern Ukraine, demonstrating his concern for animals. Daphné Rousseau, a colleague and reporter, paid him honour. On his own Twitter account, Soldin frequently posted videos of his reporting from Ukraine, capturing the conflicts realities. He called the experience of being attacked by Grad missiles in one of his tweets “pure terror.”Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna praised Soldin for his courage in telling the truth about the conflict and viewed his terrible passing as a reminder of the price paid to protect the right to information.
