A 32-year old French journalist was killed in the eastern Ukraine war zone while reporting.

Arman Soldin of the AFP news agency died after being struck by rockets near Chasiv Yar just west Bakhmut on Tuesday.

Around 16:30 (13:30 GMT), a team of journalists was attacked by a group Ukrainian soldiers.

French President Emmanuel Macron praised Soldin's efforts on the frontlines of the war.

"We share the pain of his loved ones and his colleagues," he wrote in a tweet.

Fabrice Fries said that the AFP was "devastated by the death of Soldin". He said it was a "terrible example of the dangers and risks faced by journalists who cover the conflict in Ukraine every day".

Christine Buhagiar was the Europe director of the agency. She remembered Soldin as being "enthusiastic and energetic", adding that he was "totally dedicated to his craft".

MPs across the political spectrum stood in France's National Assembly and paid tribute to Soldin.

He was part of the first AFP team to go to Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February of last year and had lived there since September.

Ukraine's defence ministry offered its "heartfelt condolences" to Soldin's family and colleagues saying: "He dedicated his life to informing the world about the truth. His legacy, as well as his cause, will live on."

The White House also paid tribute, saying the world was "indebted" to journalists who had lost their lives "while shining a light on the horrors of Russia's invasion".

Soldin, who was born in Bosnia, is the 15th journalist to be killed while reporting on the war in Ukraine since February 2022, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

At least two other French journalists have been killed covering the conflict, Pierre Zakrzewski and Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff.

Bakhmut has been the epicentre of fighting in eastern Ukraine for several months.

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