The image reporter Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff died on Monday, May 30, in Ukraine. Working for BFMTV and aged 32, he was “on board a humanitarian bus, alongside civilians forced to flee to escape Russian bombs”, announced Emmanuel Macron on Twitter Monday May 30.
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He coveredt a Ukrainian evacuation operation near Severodonetsk, according to the Foreign Ministry, in the Luhansk region, in Donbass (eastern Ukraine), when “he was fatally shot”confirmed the president. He was killed by “a Russian bombardment”, specifies the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, who condemns a “double crime targeting a humanitarian convoy and a journalist”.
The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday evening the opening of an investigation entrusted to the Central Office for the Fight against Crimes against Humanity, Genocide and War Crimes. This survey also covers “the injuries suffered by his colleague Maxime Brandstaetter”present with him during the report, said the prosecution.
BFMTV confirmed the death of its journalist on its antenna. He was hit by a “shrapnel while following a humanitarian operation”, the channel said. This was the second mission to Ukraine for the videographer, who had worked for BFMTV for six years. Journalist Maxime Brandstaetter, who accompanied him on this report, was “slightly injured”the channel said.
At BFMTV, “the pain is immense”specifies a tweet released on Monday. “Frédéric, image reporter was courageous and discreet. We are losing a colleague and a friend”, they completed. Several media and journalists paid tribute to Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff.
Frédéric Leclerc Imhoff is dead.
HAS @bfmtvthe pain is immense.
Frédéric, image reporter was courageous and discreet. We are losing a colleague and a friend. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and @BranchtMaxime who accompanied him and who we spoke to– BFMTV – Morning (@PremiereEdition) May 30, 2022
“France demands that a investigation transparency undertakes as soon as possible to shed full light on the circumstances of this tragedy”, according Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna in a statement. The death of the journalist takes place while the French minister is on the move in the Kyiv regionthe Ukrainian capital.
“I share the pain of the family, relatives and colleagues of Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff, to whom I send my condolences”announced President Emmanuel Macron on Twitter. “To those who carry out the difficult mission of informing in theaters of operations, I would like to reiterate France’s unconditional support”he assured. “Informing should not cost any life”abounded the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, on Twitter.
I share the pain of the family, relatives and colleagues of Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff, to whom I send my condolences. To those who carry out the difficult mission of informing in theaters of operations, I would like to reiterate France’s unconditional support.
—Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 30, 2022
Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia at the end of February, at least eight journalists have died in the field in the exercise of their profession, according to a count by RSF (Reporters Without Borders). This is the second French journalist to die in Ukraine, more than two months after the disappearance of Franco-Irish Pierre Zakrzewski.