AFP correspondent killed in Bakhmut

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Agencies
10 May 2023 00:10

The correspondent was reportedly killed by rocket fire near the town of Chasiv Yar on the outskirts of Bakhmut, according to his colleagues.

Arman Soldin, AFP correspondent in Bakhmut (social media)

Arman Soldin, a correspondent of Agence-France Presse in Bakhmut, was reportedly killed in cross-fire.

"We are devastated to learn of the death of AFP video journalist Arman Soldin in eastern Ukraine today. All of our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones," the agency tweeted.

We are devastated to learn of the death of AFP video journalist Arman Soldin in eastern Ukraine today.

All of our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/T2y449o1Ry
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 9, 2023

Soldin was reportedly killed by rocket fire near the town of Chasiv Yar on the outskirts of Bakhmut, according to his colleagues.

Earlier this week, the Chief of Russia's Wagner Group Private Military Company, Evgeny Prigozhin, submitted a request to Moscow to allow him to hand over his forces' positions in Bakhmut to the Akhmat battalion, led by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

Prigozhin announced on Friday in a Telegram video that his forces will be withdrawing from Bakhmut City in Donbas on May 10, stating that the reason for this measure is that his units have been suffering significant losses due to a lack of artillery munitions and that they will be retreating to the rear camps to "lick their wounds."

Bakhmut, which is situated north of Donetsk, holds strategic significance for the course of the war. The city had long been the transportation route of food and supplies for the Ukrainian troops stationed in Donbass.