(UnitedVoice.com) – Reporting from war zones is one of the most dangerous jobs in journalism. Those who do it are often on the front lines in order to keep the world informed about what’s happening. That’s exactly what Arman Soldin was doing in Ukraine — and it cost him his life.
On May 9, France’s Agence France-Presse (AFP) announced Soldin’s death on Twitter. The news agency said he died near Chasiv Yar, close to Bakhmut, where the fiercest fighting is currently taking place. Russian troops are trying to take control of the region but have fallen back in recent days.
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
AFP ran a lengthy feature about Soldin, a talented video coordinator, on the day he died. The obituary pointed to the incredible footage he has taken throughout his time in Ukraine for anyone who wants “to get the measure” of who he was. In between his time reporting, he rescued an injured hedgehog and “nursed it back to health.” He went on to name the animal “Lucky.”
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY finding food by himself. He might be missing his right eye but the guy has a good nose ! We'll leave him there.. keep an eye for him, but this does seem like a goodbye now… Goodbye and good luck, Lucky ! 🥺Thanks for being a good pal🦔🦔🦔 THE END 💕💕💕 pic.twitter.com/CDjdot5cv2
— Arman Soldin (@ArmanSoldin) April 30, 2023
On May 1, a little more than a week before he died, Soldin was caught in another hail of rockets while he was reporting. He called it “one of the worst things” he’d experienced while in the country, describing it as “Pure terror.” Still, he continued to report from the region.
Being caught under a rain of Grad yesterday with a bunch of trench-diggers is probably one of the worst things that I've experienced since being in #Ukraine, with rockets exploding less than 50 metres away. Pure terror. Sound on #afp #ukraine #bakhmut #Donetsk pic.twitter.com/aiyBHgYXAm
— Arman Soldin (@ArmanSoldin) May 1, 2023
Sadly, Soldin isn’t the only member of the media to lose his life during the Eastern European conflict. Just weeks into the war, an American journalist, Brent Renaud, lost his life. Prior to his work overseas, the 50-year-old had worked for HBO, The New York Times, and other prominent news organizations. He was shot by Russian troops outside of Kyiv.
Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and his Ukrainian colleague, Oleksandra Kuvshynova, both died when their vehicle was hit by an explosion.
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