Ukraine – Russian attacks targeting journalists in the wake of Antoni Lallican’s murder (27 November 2025)

France condemns Russia’s targeting of journalists as part of its war of aggression against Ukraine. The number of drone attacks is increasing, making the land even more dangerous, even impassable. It is these Russian tactics that killed Antoni Lallican, a French journalist and photographer, in October as he carried out his job during a Russian drone attack. France salutes Antoni Lallican’s memory and renews its tribute to all those who have been killed on assignment and paid with their lives for upholding free, independent, quality information.

From the outset of its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has been targeting press freedom and the right to information. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, we have deplored shameful tactics specifically against journalists: arrests and arbitrary detentions, indiscriminate and targeted firing at journalists and the destruction of media facilities. For nearly four years, this strategy has cost the lives of 16 journalists, four of whom were French, who died under Russian fire.

These criminal acts of violence are unacceptable and France reaffirms its commitment to finding and prosecuting, in conjunction with the Ukrainian authorities, the perpetrators of these despicable attacks.

France has asked the Russian Embassy in France for explanations, specifically about the attack on Antoni Lallican, which France utterly condemns. It has also mentioned it in multilateral fora, including the United Nations Security Council on 20 November 2025. The Russian party has not provided a satisfactory reply.

France will continue to work resolutely on getting recognition of Russia’s responsibility and on fighting impunity. It intends to continue its fight to shed light on the extent of Russia’s crimes. It will act with its partners within the European Union and in multilateral bodies to secure the adoption of concrete measures aimed at those responsible for crimes against journalists.

France reiterates its commitment to taking concrete action for the safety of journalists throughout the world, and for press freedom and the right to information.