“Arman was so enthusiastic, so energetic, so alive that it appears unreal to be right here and speak about it this morning,” stated Juliette Hollier-Larousse, the company’s deputy information director.
Soldin, who was working because the Ukraine video coordinator, was killed in a Grad rocket assault close to the japanese Ukrainian metropolis of Bakhmut. He was with a group of AFP journalists touring with Ukrainian troopers when the group got here beneath hearth. The remainder of the group escaped unhurt.
On the editorial assembly, AFP information director Phil Chetwynd stated the shock reverberated throughout the entire firm, saying that “Arman was somebody who’s liked by his colleagues.”
“To lose him in these circumstances is extremely painful for all of us,” Chetwynd stated, although ”everyone knows the dangers.”
Chetwynd stated the logistical precedence now was to return Soldin’s physique to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, so “we will safely take it in another country and return it dwelling to his household.”
He added: “It’s simply one thing we by no means, ever wish to should contact the household about. It goes to a few of our worst fears and issues. So actually, all our ideas are together with his household in the present day.”
Pavlo Kyrylenko, the governor of the japanese Donetsk area, stated in a Telegram replace that Soldin was killed close to Chasiv Yar, a western suburb of the embattled metropolis of Bakhmut.
Russian forces have been making an attempt to seize town for 9 months, making Bakhmut the main target of the struggle’s longest battle.
“I sympathize with the household and pals of the journalist and thank all who, risking their very own lives, proceed to inform the reality about our struggle,” Kyrylenko stated.
Tributes have come from far and broad for the Sarajevo-born journalist, who lived for a few years in France. Denis Becirovic, a member of the Bosnian presidency, referred to as him “a journalist devoted to his occupation” who “because the starting of Russian aggression on Ukraine bravely reported to the general public about occasions from this nation.”
Becirovic additionally referred to as Arman’s loss of life “a painful reminder to risks posed to journalists and media employees in areas caught up in struggle.”
In Paris, French International Minister Catherine Colonna paid a quick however emotional tribute to Soldin whereas talking to reporters Wednesday.
“I bear in mind him…” she stated, pausing earlier than persevering with. “I don’t wish to say issues which might be too private, however he notably coated my final go to to Kyiv. I wish to pay homage not solely to his braveness, however to the work that you just do, which is indispensable for us to know the truth of the info, for us to know the reality of what’s taking place in Ukraine and elsewhere.”
Max Blain, spokesman for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, paid tribute to Soldin’s work in Ukraine.
“Journalism continues to shine a lightweight within the darkness of this struggle and Arman’s work was important to that. Any loss of life on this unnecessary invasion is tragic and our ideas stay with all those that have misplaced family members throughout this battle,” he stated.
In Could 2022, French journalist Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff, who was working in Ukraine for BFM-TV, was killed close to Sievierodonetsk within the east.
Not less than 10 media employees have been killed whereas protecting the struggle in Ukraine, in line with Reporters With out Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Defend Journalists.
